Transformational £150million plans to revamp Aberdeen beach look set to be put on hold due to financial pressures on Aberdeen City Council.
Papers going before councillors on Wednesday recommend future phases of the beach redevelopment be delayed “until additional resources can be identified” to pay for it.
Preparations for the first phase of the beach revamp are taking place just now. This will include futuristic new playparks, an amphitheatre being carved out next to the Beach Ballroom, new canopies and an eye-catching gateway building.
Broadhill will be improved under this first stage too, and new cycle lanes are being created. All these initial works are priced at £61million. However, it is the future phases of the hoped-for transformation that council finance chiefs might need to shelve.
Phase two of the project focuses on other areas, immediately north and south of the current “phase one” zone. This includes the idea of a new boardwalk stretching out across the shore from the Beach Boulevard to the new entrance of the Beach Ballroom.
The new documents reveal that “discussions are continuing” with Aberdeen FC about the idea of building a new Dons stadium at the beach, but that the new ground, and a replacement for the Beach Leisure Centre to be attached to it, should be “subject to future budget considerations”.
Click here to read the full story in the Press & Journal.