Aberdeen rehousing programme to begin as regeneration plans approved

Council leader Jenny Laing (centre) during the ‘Shaping Middlefield’ public engagement event earlier this year
Council leader Jenny Laing (centre) during the ‘Shaping Middlefield’ public engagement event earlier this year

A major housing redevelopment programme in Middlefield has been given the green light by Aberdeen City Council.

The communities, housing and infrastructure committee yesterday agreed plans to demolish 112 properties to support community regeneration in the area and improve the health, well-being and quality of life for tenants.

Due to the planned Haudagain Improvement Scheme, the local authority will now rehouse tenants in the Triangle Site - Logie Avenue, Logie Gardens, Logie Place and North Anderson Drive – who would otherwise be surrounded by major new and existing roads.

The plans were largely supported by tenants in the area who will be given high priority for housing and will be placed on the urgent list with a view to having everyone re-housed by December 2017.

As part of the council’s multi-million pound Shaping Middlefield regeneration plan, the re-housing programme will free up the existing site to be used in line with community wishes.

Aberdeen City Council regeneration and transport spokesman, Councillor Ross Grant, said: “The decision today is a really positive step forward for the Middlefield community.

“In the past year, we have carried out engagement with the community to understand the priorities of the tenants and wider community of Middlefield which has helped to shape the proposals which have been signed off today.

“We can now progress with what will be a fantastic example of transformational change that has been driven by community empowerment.”

Aberdeen City Council chief executive, Angela Scott, is to write to the Scottish Government seeking additional financial support to ensure this can be implemented.

In March this year, council officers carried out an extensive consultation with tenants where 76 per cent preferred the option of demolishing the existing houses and being re-housed elsewhere.

The consultation showed 47 per cent of tenants preferred to demolish the existing houses and create new open space with 26 per cent preferring to demolish the houses and create a new commercial facility and 3 per cent preferring demolition with the potential for new houses on the site.

Councillors also approved a further community engagement exercise which would empower tenants to play a major role in shaping the Triangle Site for the future benefit of the community.

The £35 million Shaping Middlefield plan includes projects such as a new community facility, 179 new council homes, play park upgrades, green spaces and landscaping works as well as the new museum collection centre.

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