The elevation of Union Terrace Gardens and covering over of the Denburn Valley to radically transform Aberdeen’s centre presents a major opportunity to significantly enhance the city’s green lung.

ACSEF strongly denies claims by protestors that the city will lose a valuable amenity if the gardens are raised.

The public private sector partnership which drives economic development in the region insists that a green oasis is central to the plans.

“The design brief which will go out to international designers will have set criteria, one of which is for at least 2.5 acres of gardens and greenery to be incorporated into the scheme,” said Tom Smith. “Far from destroying our green lung, the project presents an opportunity to have brighter and better gardens which would be more visible, more accessible and benefit from more sunlight.”

“The public consultation revealed that people wanted change. The majority felt the current gardens were under-used and inaccessible. Green space and gardens were what people wanted to see most in this location and that is what they will get.”

To reflect this and to counter the inaccurate perception that the scheme will be a flat concrete square, ACSEF has also revealed today that the project will now be known as The City Garden Project.

“The initial conceptual drawings taken from the technical feasibility study which showed a flat, grey space with some greenery created the wrong perception and this was reinforced by the name of City Square,” said Mr Smith. “We want to correct these mis-conceptions and reassure people that the scheme will have green space and gardens in which to relax and play. The gardens will be set within a sweeping and stepped mix of soft and hard landscaping that respects the natural topography of the site.”

Local horticulturists have already stated that raising the existing gardens to street-level and bringing them into the sunlight would enable the planting of new recreational and ornamental gardens to improve the quality of life in the city centre.

Simon Fraser of Ben Reid said: “We could have much more diversity in terms of species, including mature trees as well as trees which blossom and cherry attracting more wildlife to our inner city. This would better reflect Aberdeen’s long heritage of horticulture.

“The current gardens are quite frankly horticulturally poor and the City Council has to be commended for achieving the greenery it does. With their north-east exposure and a surround of high buildings, the light intensities for the southern two-thirds of the gardens reduce the available plant varieties which can survive.

“We could have flowering and bedding plants including roses with the potential for apple and pear trees, green sculptures and shrubs. Soft landscaping using a combination of annuals and hardy nursery stock could be developed alongside water features.

Led by ACSEF, with £55 million of private sector funding, the City Garden project is a £140 million investment in the region to create a greener, more attractive, better-connected and safer city centre that will provide a focal point for the region helping to attract and retain people, business, investment and tourists.

“The project will create five acres of new space in our city centre and half of this, if not more, will be gardens – that’s more than two football pitches,” said Mr Smith. “The aim is to enhance the amenity of the current gardens. In addition to the new gardens, we also envisage play areas, water features, space for indoor and outdoor activities and events with a cultural centre at its heart.”