A major vision for the north-east’s future has challenged Westminster and Holyrood to help transform the region’s transport system, unlock new housing schemes and create world-leading research facilities.
The Press and Journal can today reveal details of the blueprint that has been sent to UK and Scottish ministers as part of the bid to secure a £2.9billion City Deal.
Aberdeen City council leader Jenny Laing, and her Aberdeenshire counterpart Martin Kitts-Hayes, signed-off the “Statement of Intent” on Friday, before it was sent to the two governments.
The document urges “double devolution” of powers from London to Edinburgh to Aberdeen to deliver a number of schemes.
It identifies “innovation, internationalisation, connectivity and housing” as the four key themes which are “core to realising our economic ambition”.
The plans are also backed by supportive statements from several of the region’s most successful business figures, including Sir Moir Lockhead, who built-up the Aberdeen-based transport giant FirstGroup.
“I’ve given my support very much to the City Deal – it’s a great opportunity. It’s fantastic to think about that level of investment in this area. It’s very welcome,” he said last night.
The proposals confirm the desire to create a fast network of bus-only roads as part of a “cross-city rapid transport system” to ease congestion in and around Aberdeen.
The councils are also urging the Scottish Government to accelerate proposed upgrades to the rail lines between Aberdeen and Dundee, and the Granite City and Inverness, as well opening of new stations in the north-east.
The need for “critical interventions” on the B roads to and from Westhill and Kingswells – particularly from Aberdeen International Airport, Dyce and the A96 – is also highlighted.
Under the “innovation” section, the blueprint calls for the establishment of a “world-leading research hub”, led by Aberdeen University and Robert Gordon University, and building on existing expertise at centres such as the James Hutton and Rowett institutes.
It would be delivered in three phases, with the creation of an Oil and Gas Technology Centre as the first target, followed by new facilities focussed on bio-pharmaceuticals, as well as food and health.
The “internationalisation” aim of the City Deal statement focuses on delivering the £320million expansion of Aberdeen Harbour, boosting tourism, positioning the region at the forefront of the burgeoning oil and gas decommissioning sector, and increasing the number of destinations in and out of the airport.
On housing, the statement urges support for creating new policies to unlock constrained development sites, and to enable local authorities to intervene to tackle disrepair in the privately-owned housing sector.
Major new superfast broadband connections are also proposed.
Chancellor George Osborne announced at the Budget in March that ministers would enter into formal negotiations on lucrative City Deals for Aberdeen and Inverness.
While work continues on the fully detailed bid, the “statement of intent” outlines what the local authorities hope to achieve from the deal.
It is hoped that the package can be signed off by the end of the year.
Mrs Laing said: “The challenge is to work towards a deal that will maximise the benefits of coordinated new and accelerated investment in the Aberdeen city region.
“We believe this statement articulates the progress that has been made so far and that a deal between the two governments can be made.”
Mr Kitts-Hayes said: “By even greater collaboration across industry and all layers of government, we can protect the competitiveness of the oil and gas industry already firmly established here and help to power tomorrow’s world.”