A £5.4million five-year project is to be created which will have grants for capital building improvements, heritage skills training, and community heritage activities in the east end of Union Street and the Castlegate.
The Silver City Heritage and Place Programme will also have third-party grants for repairs to traditional buildings through twice-yearly application rounds. Third party grants will also be offered for approved priority projects, for building repairs, and public realm upgrades and greenspaces.
The Programme includes £2.1m of Aberdeen City Council funding agreed today by the Finance and Resources Committee. The total project budget, including owner and other contributions, in £5.4m.
Committee convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “The Silver City Heritage and Place Programme provides building owners an opportunity to secure grant funding and carry out improvement works to their buildings around the Castlegate and east end of Union Street – complementing the ongoing regeneration projects being carried out by Aberdeen City Council.”
Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “The Silver City Heritage and Place Programme will make a difference to the buildings in the east end of Union Street and the Castlegate.
“The Programme will also complement the Council’s existing commitment to the whole area in the City Centre and Beach Masterplan.”
The report to committee said grants of £1,138,090 from each organisation were offered by Historic Environment Scotland and The National Lottery Heritage Fund in June 2025 for the Programme.
The projects which are part of the Programme include:
- Priority projects building repairs – Justice Street shopfronts;
- Priority projects building repairs – Peacock’s printworks;
- Priority projects building repairs – Seabury House;
- Public realm – Castlegate north courts;
- Greenspaces – Smith’s/Peacock’s Close sensory garden and community growing;
- Greenspaces – Castlehill community garden.
As part of the delivery phase of the Programme, the projects were developed in consultation with owners and stakeholders during the earlier 18-month development phase.
The report to committee said the Programme also contributes to and supports wider Council outcomes, particularly around the City Centre and Beach Masterplan.
