Gardens plan worth ‘£122m to the city’

CONTROVERSIAL plans for the transformation of Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens could create more than 6,000 jobs and boost the local economy by at least £122 million a year, according to a new council report.

Providing a “high-quality environment” in the heart of the city will confirm Europe’s oil capital is serious about being a global energy city. But without major investment, companies are in danger of regarding Aberdeen as “complacent and backward,” councillors are being warned by senior officials.

The economic crossroads facing the city has been spelled out by Gerry Brough, the council’s project director for economic and business development, in a report on the City Garden Project (CGP), due to go before a special meeting of the full council on Wednesday.

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Earlier this week, a futuristic design by American architects Diller Scofidio & Renfro was unveiled by the Aberdeen City Garden Trust (ACGT), the group spearheading the transformational scheme, as the winning vision for the divisive project.In his report to councillors, Mr Brough states: “Based on the research carried out by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, it is expected that the CGP will have a major catalytic role in delivering city centre regeneration and, should this be realised, a consequent significant impact on new job creation and gross value added within the city – up to 6,500 full-time equivalent new jobs and an average additional GVA of £122.6 million per year to 2039.”

Oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood, who is championing the scheme, has already pledged £50 million of his personal fortune to the City Garden project.