Works to the new road surface of Union Street Central are being finished off before Aberdeen City Council’s Christmas Parade goes down the entire length of the street again on Sunday (15 November 2026).
The Council’s Finance and Resources Committee last week agreed a report with updates to several city centre and Beach masterplan projects which includes the final works to 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 which will provide an enhanced public realm from Union Terrace to Market Street includes reallocating space in favour of walking, wheeling, cycling users, and public transport, while still allowing service vehicle access.
The works include the road has been reduced in width to 7.3m to allow the pavements to be widened. The reapportioning of street space allows for the introduction of a new two-way 3m-wide cycle track on the north side, and public seating at key locations,
The adjacent complimentary Smith Screen conservation and restoration project is due to see the historic structure back to its best in Spring 2027.
The Castlegate Streetscape project includes public realm and streetscaping improvements, new street furniture, public art, improved lighting, and enhanced street greening. The project includes an active travel route through the Castlegate towards the Beachfront, with consideration for vehicular access to service businesses.
Progress includes existing surfaces have been removed and temporary access works installed, road foundation earthworks, Openreach diversion works completed in the south pavement and they are underway in the north pavement, SGN has completed diversion works in the north pavement, and proposals for the conservation work to the Mercat Cross are ongoing, including consultation with statutory heritage and conservation stakeholders.
The new market building, to be called Flint, is a major city centre regeneration initiative being developed on the site of the former BHS building and Aberdeen Market. The development will create a modern destination venue comprising food, drink, retail and leisure uses together with enhanced public realm and improved connectivity between Union Street, The Green and the city’s transport hubs.
Significant progress has been made to the building envelope and roofing, mechanical and electrical installations; drainage infrastructure; internal space fit out, and occupier marketing has also started for the food hall and retail units.
The new beach park and events area will provide a significantly sized outdoor destination within the unique beachfront context. The play park is part of the wider landscape masterplan and facilitates connections back to the city centre, and will also be inclusive and free to use.
Progress to the beach park includes buildings are complete externally and internally, the skate landscape is complete, the tower structure supporting steel is erected, two adjacent play structures are substantially complete, and adjacent play structure is erected with fit-out progressing.
The Events Park updates include soft landscaping and paths are complete and building structures are complete both internally and externally.