Finishing touches to the new Union Street Central road surface are being completed ahead of Aberdeen City Council's Christmas Parade, which will travel the full length of the street on Sunday, 15 November 2026.

The council's Finance and Resources Committee last week approved an update report on several City Centre and Beach Masterplan schemes, including the final phase of work on Union Street Central.

Council Co-Leader Ian Yuill said: "I am looking forward to seeing the Christmas Parade go from the top of Union Street all the way down to the Castlegate next Sunday.

"The Christmas Parade will be a milestone for the City Centre and Beach Masterplan projects which will make our city centre an even better place in which to live, work, do business, and spend leisure time."

The Union Street Central Streetscape project, running from Union Terrace to Market Street, will deliver an enhanced public realm by reallocating space in favour of walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport, while maintaining access for service vehicles.

As part of the works, the carriageway has been narrowed to 7.3 metres to allow wider pavements. The redesign also introduces a new two-way, 3-metre-wide cycle track on the north side and adds public seating at key locations.

-- Advertisement --

The complementary Smith Screen conservation and restoration scheme is scheduled to return the historic structure to its best by spring 2027.

At the Castlegate, streetscape upgrades include new public realm features, street furniture, public art, improved lighting and more greenery. The plans also provide an active travel route through the Castlegate towards the beachfront, with provision for vehicle access to service nearby businesses.

Progress there includes removal of existing surfaces and installation of temporary access, road foundation earthworks, completion of Openreach diversion works on the south pavement with activity under way on the north pavement, completion of SGN diversions on the north pavement, and ongoing proposals for conservation of the Mercat Cross in consultation with statutory heritage and conservation bodies.

The new market building, to be named Flint, is a major regeneration project on the former BHS and Aberdeen Market site. It will create a modern destination for food, drink, retail and leisure, alongside improved public realm and stronger links between Union Street, The Green and the city's transport hubs.

Significant progress has been made on the building envelope and roofing, mechanical and electrical installations, drainage infrastructure and internal fit-out, while occupier marketing has begun for the food hall and retail units.

The new beach park and events area will form a major outdoor destination on the seafront. The play park, part of the wider landscape masterplan, will improve connections back to the city centre and be inclusive and free to use.

At the beach park, buildings are complete inside and out, the skate landscape is finished, the tower structure's supporting steel is erected, two adjacent play structures are substantially complete, and another adjacent play structure has been erected with fit-out progressing.

For the Events Park, soft landscaping and paths are complete, and building structures are finished both internally and externally.