Construction on the museum of Aberdeenshire and a new Peterhead Library will begin in June, delivered by Hub North Scotland. Centred on the historic Arbuthnot House on Broad Street, the project marks a major step in transforming Peterhead's town centre as part of the Cultural Quarter.

Alongside the ongoing redevelopment of Macduff Aquarium, the Cultural Quarter is supported by £20 million from the UK Local Regeneration Fund, with additional council investment and major contributions from national funding streams.

The scheme forms part of the council's wider £150 million commitment to the town, which includes the much-anticipated replacement Peterhead Academy to provide a modern, inspiring and fully accessible learning environment, supporting education, wellbeing and community life for decades to come.

Last week, the council confirmed it will not proceed with refurbishing the former Public Library and Arbuthnot Museum building on St Peter Street within the Cultural Quarter plans.

Significant rises in construction and material costs across the wider programme have required a reallocation of capital funding to ensure the principal elements can go ahead.

This refocusing of funds will allow work to start promptly on the flagship museum and library, aiming to deliver long-term cultural, educational and economic benefits for Peterhead and Aberdeenshire.

The council acknowledges the disappointment this will cause and will continue working with stakeholders to identify future funding opportunities and secure a new long-term use for the St Peter Street building.

It has also confirmed Peterhead Library will continue operating from the town's Leisure and Community Centre for the next few years, as the former library building is no longer fit for purpose.

Aberdeenshire Council Co-Leader Cllr Stewart Adams said: "I am delighted to hear that construction will begin in June on the new Peterhead Library and museum of Aberdeenshire, which will be a vibrant new space celebrating the people, stories and treasures that make our region truly one of a kind. This museum will be for everyone across the Shire and, thanks to our own significant investment and the generous external funding, we're not just building a museum – we're investing in the future of tourism, culture and the local economy in the north of Aberdeenshire.

-- Advertisement --

"Of course it's very disappointing that we have to announce our decision not to progress with the refurbishment of the former Public Library and Arbuthnot Museum building. Sadly, as is being felt across the UK and beyond, rising construction costs have forced us to make difficult choices to ensure we can still deliver the museum of Aberdeenshire and the new Peterhead Library. I want to stress that Aberdeenshire Council remains fully committed to its long-term vision for Peterhead and to delivering transformational educational and cultural infrastructure which will serve the local community for generations to come."

Co-Leader Cllr Anne Stirling added: "The start of construction on our new museum of Aberdeenshire is an exciting milestone for the region and once completed it will boost the north-east economy by enriching Aberdeenshire's tourist offering and opening up exciting opportunities for local businesses. It was an incredibly difficult decision for the Council to take with regards to the refurbishment of the former Public Library and Arbuthnot Museum building and we fully appreciate that the Peterhead community will feel disappointed. However we have a duty to safeguard the public purse by ensuring capital investment decisions deliver clear value and long‑term benefit

"By reallocating funding at this moment in time, we can move forward with construction on Broad Street, which remains central to our ambitions for the town. We will, of course, continue and fast-track dialogue with our partners within the community and stakeholders to consider the future of the vacant St Peter Street building and explore appropriate next steps for its continued use."

Over the next three years, a new cultural destination combining the town's library with the council's first shire-wide museum will take shape on Broad Street, centred on the vacant Arbuthnot House. The museum will display the region's extensive heritage collections and artwork, giving visitors an unparalleled chance to explore Aberdeenshire's rich and varied stories.

State-of-the-art permanent galleries will greatly increase the number of objects on public view, spanning natural history and archaeology to social history and art, creating space for both familiar and new narratives that better reflect the changing people and places of Aberdeenshire.

Due to open in late 2028, the attraction will feature purpose-built galleries, a dedicated temporary exhibitions space capable of hosting touring national shows, and flexible workshop and learning areas to support participation, education and community engagement. A restaurant with an outdoor terrace and a small retail area will further enhance the visitor experience.

Creative interpretation will be central, weaving music, interactives, film and Doric language throughout the displays. A community gallery will allow regularly changing exhibitions and co-curation by local groups, while a dedicated gallery will celebrate Peterhead's heritage alongside stories from across the wider shire.