Aberdeen’s £14 million initiative to redevelop the Castlegate area has resumed with BT-owned Openreach beginning essential utility works on the southern side of the site. This progress follows extended negotiations with Aberdeen City Council, which had previously caused delays to the project timeline.
The comprehensive upgrade of Castlegate forms a key component of the city council’s broader £150 million City Centre and Beachfront Master Plan. The scheme aims to transform the historic public square into a vibrant civic space, featuring a new surface of local Avochie granite setts and Scottish whinstone paving, enhanced street furniture, improved lighting, and increased connectivity between Union Street and the beachfront. Plans also include the careful restoration of the 340-year-old Mercat Cross and the relocation of the Gordon Highlanders statue.
Recent delays had seen trenches at the site backfilled, sparking concerns over the project’s schedule. However, Openreach teams commenced work on their underground infrastructure on Monday, August 17. Other utility providers, including SGN, Vodafone, and CityFibre, had already identified their services and coordinated their work programmes to facilitate a streamlined approach to the utility diversions. Council officials had previously indicated that discussions with Openreach regarding these complex network changes had been ongoing for approximately 12 months, with the utility firm citing “safety” considerations for the hold-up.
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Morrison Construction has been appointed as the main contractor for the streetscape improvements at Castlegate, with Hub North Scotland acting as the council’s delivery partner. Preliminary progress on the utilities has been observed, with excavations now visible outside businesses along the southern perimeter of the square. Pedestrian access to all shops and premises within the Castlegate area is being maintained throughout the construction period.
The Castlegate streetscape improvements are scheduled for completion in summer 2027. This project runs concurrently with other significant regeneration efforts across Aberdeen.
Meanwhile, Work icontinues on the revamp of nearby Union Street Central, which is expected to conclude in “late summer 2026”. Additionally, the beachfront is undergoing a £50 million transformation, including the development of a major new play park, with the beach park phase also anticipated to reach practical completion in “late summer 2026”, though no specific date has been announced for either.
