PLANS for a new urban park in Aberdeen city centre have been paused amid "unforeseen repairs" to an iconic tower adjacent to the proposed park site.
Maintenance work is currently underway at the Mitchell Tower at Marischal College East, which is owned by the University of Aberdeen, and an unforeseen repair has been uncovered.
It had been reported construction for the Queen Street urban park in the middle of Aberdeen could begin late this summer, but plans are now on hold.
Artist impressions of the city centre street showed how the road could be reimagined, with for seating, sensory and terraced gardens and space for performances.
In a joint statement from Aberdeen City Council and the University of Aberdeen, it was revealed the unforeseen repair to the tower and the maintenance programme could take "at least 12 months". This has still to be confirmed pending detailed inspection.
The university is liaising closely with Aberdeen City Council and updating them over progress and timeline of that work.
The statement said: "It is expected that the unforeseen repair and maintenance programme could take at least 12 months - although this has still to be confirmed pending detailed inspection.
"During this time there will be a requirement for construction access through Queen Street and the site of the proposed urban park to Marischal East and the Mitchell Tower. Aberdeen City Council is working closely with the university to ensure that respective programmes do not prejudice or prevent any emergency repair work to be undertaken.
"In order to deliver the most efficient construction programmes for both the repairs to the Tower and the delivery of the urban park, the council has reprogrammed the construction of the urban park to commence on site once issues with the Mitchell Tower have been addressed."
It concluded: "Maintaining a permanent access to Marischal East and the Mitchell Tower throughout the urban park construction programme would add significant time, cost and complexity to the project, together with risk to new fixtures fittings and new surfaces.
"The council has therefore agreed to pause the construction programme for the urban park to enable full access to Marischal East to undertake necessary repair works."
Councillors had budgeted for the work to cost £16.8m by March 2028. In September 2023, the whole Queen Street regeneration project was priced at £61m.
