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A £5.4 million, five-year regeneration initiative aimed at restoring historic buildings and supporting community heritage projects has been approved for the east end of Union Street and the Castlegate in Aberdeen.
The Silver City Heritage and Place Programme will provide funding for capital building upgrades, traditional skills training and local heritage activities. It will also introduce twice-yearly grant schemes offering financial support for repairs to traditional properties.
Additional third-party grants will be made available for priority projects, including building restoration, public space improvements and enhancements to local green areas.
Aberdeen City Council's Finance and Resources Committee approved £2.1 million in council funding for the programme. The overall project budget – which includes contributions from property owners and other partners – totals £5.4 million.
Committee convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “The Silver City Heritage and Place Programme provides building owners an opportunity to secure grant funding and carry out improvement works to their buildings around the Castlegate and east end of Union Street – complementing the ongoing regeneration projects being carried out by Aberdeen City Council.”
Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: "The Silver City Heritage and Place Programme will make a difference to the buildings in the east end of Union Street and the Castlegate.
"The Programme will also complement the Council's existing commitment to the whole area in the City Centre and Beach Masterplan."
The report to committee said grants of £1,138,090 from each organisation were offered by Historic Environment Scotland and The National Lottery Heritage Fund in June 2025 for the Programme.
The projects which are part of the Programme include:
• Priority projects building repairs - Justice Street shopfronts;
• Priority projects building repairs - Peacock's printworks;
• Priority projects building repairs - Seabury House;
• Public realm - Castlegate north courts;
• Greenspaces - Smith's/Peacock's Close sensory garden and community growing;
• Greenspaces - Castlehill community garden.
As part of the delivery phase of the Programme, the projects were developed in consultation with owners and stakeholders during the earlier 18-month development phase.
