Urban village plans revealed in £50m Richards site revamp
Public have their say on redevelopment plan for derelict factory
By Rebecca Buchan
Published: 09/02/2011
The public had their say last night on plans to transform a derelict textile factory in Aberdeen into a £50million urban village.
Architects at Halliday Fraser and Munro displayed their vision for the Broadford Works site at the Catherine Street Community Centre, where around 20 members of the public attended to voice their opinions.
The grade A-listed mill buildings, between Maberly Street and Hutcheon Street, have lain empty since textile company Richards collapsed in 2004, with the loss of 190 jobs.
Now First Construction, owned by oil multimillionaire and former Richards boss Ian Suttie, wants to convert the protected buildings into 221 flats and also add a further 220 new builds to the site.
Also within the development, which is being supported by the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, will be a pub, restaurant, children’s park, shops and nearly 500 parking spaces which will form a new urban village within the city centre.
Members of the public told three of the architects working on the project last night that they were looking forward to seeing the old mill buildings back in use again.
Ian Fraser of Halliday Fraser Munro said last night: “All the feedback we have had tonight seems to be very positive.
“The main thing we are hearing is that everyone wants to see the buildings put to use.
“The buildings are so historically and archeologically important.
“We have examples of all different types of mill buildings from the 18th century through to the 20th.
“By redeveloping the site, we are therefore able to protect them and bring them back to life.”
The current plans contain mostly two-bedroom flats but will also have some one and three-bedroom properties.
First Construction originally submitted plans for the site, which includes the oldest iron-framed mill building in Scotland, in 2004.
The proposals included 398 flats and 501 parking spaces, but councillors threw the plans out in 2007.
The firm appealed and the Scottish Government overturned the decision, only for the company to be denied listed-building consent to begin work.
In December, Aberdeen City Council received notice that the developer was preparing to submit fresh plans.
There will be another chance for residents to give feedback on the current plans on February 15 at the Catherine Street Community Centre.
All comments will be logged and submitted along with the application for planning permission.
