Public consultation Aberdeen today The vision for Aberdeen - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

 Public consultation  Aberdeen today  The vision for Aberdeen city centre  The masterplan objectives  The four key themes  Intervention areas  What the masterplan achieves

Stakeholder support  Three extensive engagement exercises:  Issues and challenges 24-27 Sep14  Vision for the city centre 28-29 Nov 14  Draft masterplan & projects 14 Mar - 6 Apr 15  2,812 participants  2,233 written responses  62% support the Vision  68% agree with the Objectives  Support for the Projects (grouped into themes) ranged from 66% to 93%

Why have a masterplan?  Responding to the challenges of an increasingly competitive and international context.  Supporting economic growth.  Building on Strategic Investment Plan and Economic Strategy.  Securing benefits and opportunities for people of City and Shire.  Managing and directing investment in the city centre.  A shared vision for Aberdeen city centre.

City centre challenges 1.1 million tourists in 2013  5 th most entrepreneurial city in UK Energy is the primary driver of prosperity, but a broad based economy would be more sustainable. Ranked 1 st for car  Aberdeen is strong on business tourism but attracts less general tourism. ownership in Scotland 1 st – highest  This is Scotland’s least deprived city, but 75% hotel occupancy pockets of real deprivation persist. business start up rate  High ranking quality of life indices are not 2 nd lowest outside London reflected in the city centre environment or range of services and facilities. claimant count  1 in 7 is a student The value of the historic city centre is compromised by the dominance of traffic Young ung – ½ the p populat latio ion i is and poor pedestrian environments. age aged 34 34 or less

Vision for the city centre The vision for the city centre is: “A City Centre for a global city” The purpose of the city centre masterplan and delivery programme is: “Energising the city centre to deliver prosperity and a better quality of life for all”

Vision for the city centre  A city centre that contributes more to an internationally competitive economy.  An internationally distinctive city centre, recognised worldwide but with new energy and colour.  Building on business tourism to increase leisure visits.  Housing an international population and workforce, including students, as well as giving local residents world- class services.

Masterplan objectives  Specific to Aberdeen.  Addressing city centre challenges and opportunities.  Linked to the vision of a global city.  A basis for benchmarking progress and achievement.

An integrated masterplan

Energy and More  Economic strategy  Energy sector  Innovation and smart specialisation  Creative industries  Culture and tourism  Skills training and employment  13 city centre projects  New offices, research and innovation centres  New creative space  New and improved visitor facilities  Enhanced cultural programming  Sector specific skills training

A City for People  Community strategy  City centre living  Improving the retail environment  12 projects  New and improved city centre neighbourhoods at Castlehill, Queen Street, Torry Waterfront, Regent Quay and Woolmanhill  Attracting new city centre residents and helping existing communities and families to enjoy city centre living  New and improved shopping experiences, including independent retailers

Light of the North  Public realm strategy  Places for People  Squares and gardens  Lighting – Aberdeen in colour  11 projects across the city centre  A pedestrian first approach in key city centre streets such as Broad Street, Guild Street, Justice Mill Lane, Union Street and Upper Kirkgate  Reinvigorated public spaces including Union Terrace Gardens and Castlegate  A lighting masterplan to bring the city centre to life

The Connected City  The infrastructure strategy  Removing non-essential traffic from central areas  Promoting a cycling city  Prioritising the bus and improving rail linkages  Ensuring a resilient utilities infrastructure  13 projects in the city centre  An integrated car parking and roads project to reduce city centre traffic  Better facilities for cycling and bus users  Improvements to the railway station and rail services  Smart broadband, energy and waste networks

Intervention areas 1. Denburn Valley 2. Heart of the City 3. Queen’s Square 4. Union Street West 5. Station Gateway 6. Castlegate / Castlehill 7. North Dee / Torry Waterfront

Denburn Valley  Union Terrace Gardens reconnected into the city centre, leading to a new city centre residential quarter around the Denburn Valley and Woolmanhill  New footbridge connection from Union Terrace to Belmont Street  Former Woolmanhill hospital converted into hotel and apartments  Denburn Health Centre and car park redeveloped to create a new residential quarter, set in the Denburn Valley

Denburn Valley  Union Terrace Gardens reconnected into the city centre, leading to a new city centre residential quarter around the Denburn Valley and Woolmanhill  New footbridge connection from Union Terrace to Belmont Street  Former Woolmanhill hospital converted into hotel and apartments  Denburn Health Centre and car park redeveloped to create a new residential quarter, set in the Denburn Valley

Heart of the City  Creating a stronger retail heart to the city, reinvigorating Union Street and integrating the public realm of the medieval and Georgian cities:  Removing cars from the central section of Union Street, remodelling the public realm to create space for business to spill out into a people friendly environment.  Redevelopment of the market.  Remodelling of the St. Nicholas Centre with a winter garden with views to Mither Kirk .

Heart of the City  Creating a stronger retail heart to the city, reinvigorating Union Street and integrating the public realm of the medieval and Georgian cities  Removing cars from the central section of Union Street, remodelling the public realm to create space for business to spill out into a people friendly environment  Redevelopment of the market  Remodelling of the St. Nicholas Centre with a winter garden with views to Mither Kirk

Queen’s Square  A new, desirable city centre neighbourhood, in historic surroundings. Cafes and shops spill out onto pedestrian friendly streets and squares. Cultural uses such as the Lemon Tree and the Arts centre add to this vibrant urban quarter  Ground floor commercial uses  Residential apartments above  Reuse of Marischal College Annex and Greyfriars Church

Queen’s Square  A new, desirable city centre neighbourhood, in historic surroundings. Cafes and shops spill out onto pedestrian friendly streets and squares. Cultural uses such as the Lemon Tree and the Arts centre add to this vibrant urban quarter:  Ground floor commercial uses  Residential apartments above  Reuse of Marischal College Annex and Greyfriars Church

Union Street West  The new West End – an elegant city street and distinctive business address, providing a focus for independent businesses and entrepreneurs  Anchored by Aberdeen City Rooms – providing business services, managed workspace, exhibition and events space and a home for the city centre development team  Skills and business training programmes  Public realm enhancements

Union Street West  The new West End – an elegant city street and distinctive business address, providing a focus for independent businesses and entrepreneurs  Anchored by Aberdeen City Rooms – providing business services, managed workspace, exhibition and events space and a home for the city centre development team  Skills and business training programmes  Public realm enhancements

Station Gateway  The phased redevelopment of this key approach to the city centre, with new business and commercial developments framing a radically transformed arrival experience  Removal of cars from Guild Street  Remodelled station  Redevelopment of Atholl House  Longer term reconfiguration of the Trinity Centre to transform the link to Union Street

Station Gateway  The phased redevelopment of this key approach to the city centre, with new business and commercial developments framing a radically transformed arrival experience  Removal of cars from Guild Street  Remodelled station  Redevelopment of Atholl House  Longer term reconfiguration of the Trinity Centre to transform the link to Union Street

Castlegate / Castlehill  Aberdeen’s main civic square and a key orientation point for visitors, linking Union Street with the harbourside and the Beach  The square will become a flexible events space and will be surrounded with visitor-orientated leisure uses:  New hotels  Markets  Cafes and restaurants  Beyond the square new housing will strengthen the Castlehill neighbourhood