August 27 2021

Aberdeen is to pivot its city centre towards the seafront with a series of projects designed to establish a waterfront destination.

Having turned its back on the water for decades the city council has approved the designs and business case for a Beach Masterplan by Keppie Design, centred on an integrated stadium and leisure complex by AFL Architects and unified by enhanced public realm.

Individual projects include refurbishing a historic ballroom, beach boulevard, water features and an energy centre in a bid to draw more people to the water.

Councillor Ryan Houghton said: “The proposals for the beach would make it a destination once again.Transforming it through significant investment providing new facilities and creating a space where city residents and visitors are drawn to."

The coordinated action plan will include traffic management measures to promote active travel and bolster sea defences and a 'striking' pier extending out into the water at the head of a processional route centred on a former tram line.

4 Comments

#1 Posted by Roddy_ on 27 Aug 2021 at 12:47 PM

Any chance of a link to the masterplan document UR?
The first image is perplexing with references to a new stadium and leisure offering. Aberdeen FC are seemingly committed to moving Pittodrie stadium to their complex in Kingswells, so one wonders about the viability of such a proposal and who the new tenant might be. The Aberdeen Sports Village, Aquatics Centre and Chris Anderson Stadium are all within a 10 minute walking distance and all look to be fairly recent. Are they just going to move them all up to the coastal edge?
Not certain this ‘masterplan’ hangs the gither. Without some extra context the hale thing looks like a muckle hallirackit… as they might say in those parts…

#2 Posted by UR on 27 Aug 2021 at 13:45 PM

Agenda notes are available here. AFC's move to Kingsford is now under review after the beachfront location became available.
https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=618&MId=7956

#3 Posted by Roddy_ on 27 Aug 2021 at 14:18 PM

Thanks for the update UR. Much appreciated.

#4 Posted by Louis Kahnt on 27 Aug 2021 at 16:31 PM

This masterplan will look great on the shelf next to the previous beach nasterplan and all the other unimplemented city masterplans. Just pick one and actually do something with it!!

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