Noted below are some frequently asked questions about ACSEF and the City Garden Project.

What is ACSEF?

ACSEF (Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future) is an economic development partnership that drives a shared agenda to grow the regional economy and enhance its quality of life, creating opportunities and jobs for everyone.

It brings together the public sector and businesses to create the best environment and conditions for sustainable growth and long term prosperity for Aberdeen City and Shire through an agreed action plan.

The ACSEF Board performs an advisory role.

ACSEF is supported by a Management Team that meets regularly to monitor progress on the action plan and operational delivery.  The Management Team consists of key officers from Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, and VisitScotland.

Why was ACSEF established?

Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Forum was originally set up in 2001 when the Scottish Government set up local economic forums.  Following the Government’s review of economic development in 2008, local economic forums were disbanded and a new structure for Scottish Enterprise was established. This included the introduction of five regional advisory boards throughout the Scottish Enterprise area.

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney MSP, highlighted the Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Forum model as an exemplar of how the Scottish Government saw its approach to regional economic development being delivered in his statement to the Scottish Parliament on 26 September 2007.

He said: “I am aware that in many areas there are successful examples of effective local collaboration between the enterprise networks, local authorities and the business community. The Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Forum is one such example. So I want to make absolutely clear that where there are strong, effective local partnerships and strong local identity - these should continue to operate within the regional model. This Government wants to encourage collaboration between the public, private and voluntary sectors and indeed believes that more local areas, having seen the benefits of this collaboration elsewhere, will choose to adopt a similar approach.”

Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (ACSEF) was set up in 2008 to maintain the momentum achieved and ensure a continued, concerted approach to economic development in the region. It was agreed that the ACSEF board would also fulfil the function of the Regional Advisory Board for Scottish Enterprise in Aberdeen City and Shire. 

What does ACSEF do?

Through engagement with over 1,500 businesses, ACSEF shaped a vision for the region for 2025. All the partners have signed a formal charter to underline their commitment to achieving that vision.

The vision is being realised by the delivery of an ambitious action plan which focuses on the priorities of improving transport, maximising intellectual capital, developing, retaining and attracting skilled people, anchoring a global oil and gas industry, stream-lining the planning process, redeveloping the city centre and attracting more corporate head-quarters.

The charter states that the partners will provide leadership to deliver the ACSEF vision, commit the required level of resource to achieve sustainable economic growth, recognise the advisory role of the board and work collaboratively to deliver the shared objectives.

The partners take responsibility for leading on key strategic objectives, agreeing the required level of funding to meet the objectives identified in the plan and ensuring that all stakeholders, elected members and staff are fully engaged in ACSEF’s plan.

ACSEF’s plan is to facilitate over £1.5 billion in investment in the next 15 to 20 years which will safeguard and create thousands of jobs.

Who is responsible for ACSEF funding?

The ACSEF partnership is funded by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils and Scottish Enterprise. Management of both core operational and project costs is controlled by the public sector organisations through their normal accounting and management systems.

Written reports and regular feedback on the work of ACSEF are provided to the relevant committees of both councils.

How much money does the private sector contribute to ACSEF?

The private sector currently contributes through in-kind support. The aim of ACSEF is to create the right conditions for growth that will attract private sector investment.  Specific projects that form part of the ACSEF action plan will attract private sector funding.

How is the Chair of ACSEF appointed?

The Chair of ACSEF is elected by the Board. 

This is undertaken in consultation with the Scottish Enterprise Board Nominations Committee, due to the ACSEF Board’s role as the Regional Advisory Board for Scottish Enterprise in Aberdeen City and Shire.

How are ACSEF Board members appointed?

The process for appointing ACSEF Board members is approved by the Scottish Enterprise Nominations Committee, due to the ACSEF Board’s role as the Regional Advisory Board for Scottish Enterprise in Aberdeen City and Shire.

The ACSEF board comprises the leaders of both councils, a member of the Scottish Enterprise Board, representatives from the education sector and private sector representatives who are appointed for their industry sector knowledge and expertise as well as their influence and commitment to economic development.

Board members are guided by the Principles of Public Life as set out by the Model Code of Conduct for Standards in Public Life produced for Members of Devolved Public Bodies by the Standards Commission for Scotland in 2002.

Can anyone apply to join the ACSEF Board?

Anyone can register their interest for Board membership and their details will be retained by ACSEF for consideration when vacancies arise.

Vacancies are advertised on the Scottish Enterprise and ACSEF websites and those on the register will be asked if they wish to be considered.  Candidates should note that expertise in economic development is required due to the advisory role of the Board.

Are ACSEF Board members paid a salary for their position?

Board members are not paid a salary. They give their time for free to attend meetings, and lead on strategic priority areas and projects on behalf of ACSEF. The time commitment is often onerous.

How can I contact ACSEF?

Contact details are on the ACSEF website - click here to access

Does ACSEF have a complaints procedure?

Any complaint regarding ACSEF can be made through the complaints procedures of any of the public sector partners.  Any complaints regarding the ACSEF Board should be made through Scottish Enterprise.  Links to the partner’s procedures can be found here

What are ACSEF’s main projects?

Under the key priority areas identified above, ACSEF has five flagship projects:

The City Garden Project

This transformational project aims to create a more attractive, greener, better-connected and safer city centre by raising the under-used and inaccessible Union Terrace Gardens and covering over the unsighlty Denburn dual carriageway and adjacent railway line. This will result in a new five acre civic space, with a further two and a half acres of covered concourse beneath it, with enhanced green space and places for major outdoor and indoor events and activities for the whole community.

The site is a strategic central location and ACSEF believes its re-development is key to the development framework for the city centre and will act as a catalyst for the re-generation of Union Street and other city centre areas.

This project represents a £140 million investment in our city centre. ACSEF believes this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is absolutely vital to securing new investment, new business, new jobs and ensuring we become a world energy city and a global energy hub.

Energetica

This initiative aims to consolidate the region as a global all-energy hub, attract new high value investment and support the export drive of indigenous business and industry. The project has the potential to stimulate £750 million of investment over 10 years and generate GVA of £500 million. 

Central to Energetica is a 30-mile corridor stretching from the North of Aberdeen to Peterhead and encompassing the airport development zone which will attract a concentration of energy technology companies to a low carbon environment of outstanding housing and leisure facilities.

Scottish Food and Health Innovation Project

A pan-Scotland initiative with its focal point in Aberdeen, this project will enable Scottish food & drink companies to utilise the world class research in food, health and life sciences available in Scotland to accelerate the launch of new products into the rapidly expanding global food and health nutrition market. Scottish Enterprise is developing the proposition for the proposed £5 million investment it will make to this project.

Royal Deeside and Cairgorms Tourism

In line with the Scottish Government’s target of increasing the value of business and leisure tourism by 50% by 2015, ACSEF aims to develop the Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms as a key destination.  Already there is a clear focus on leadership from industry and delivery in partnership with other agencies, including VisitScotland, the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Scottish Enterprise and Aberdeenshire Council.  Creating the environment to encourage and maximise private sector investment, predominantly in new and existing accommodation stock, will be crucial to the successful delivery of the growth target. 

Planning Modernisation

The ACSEF Planning Modernisation Group (PMG), led by the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, is facilitating the culture change that is required by all stakeholders to improve the planning decision making process.  The PMG Executive and Forum are made up of representatives from the City and Shire planning departments, Councillors, utilities, developers, academia, solicitors, other business leaders and the community.  The Group also aims to strengthen its engagement with the Scottish Government and national bodies, underlining its commitment to achieving a culture change in how the planning decision-making is implemented and used.  The Group has already articulated the ACSEF strategy to ensure alignment with the Structure Plan and Local Development Plans.  Work will continue to ensure the sharing of best practice, and an ongoing series of workshops to enhance engagement between everyone who is involved with or affected by the planning process. 

It is important to note that no single project can deliver the ambition. The strength of ACSEF’s plan which includes the actions under the priority areas as well as the flagship projects is that it demonstrates a connectivity that will deliver for all industry sectors and all communities across the region.

What is the City Garden project?

The project proposes to radically transform a strategic central location by elevating Union Terrace Gardens and covering over the Denburn dual carriageway and adjacent railway line to create the following:

• Street level access to green gardens designed and landscaped with trees, grass and plants for all seasons, animated with water and light features

• Use of the natural topography to follow the level changes from Union Terrace to Belmont Street with stepped and sweeping landscaping

• A natural amphitheatre at the HMT end to provide a civic space for major outdoor events, gatherings, festivals and concerts

• An iconic contemporary arts centre

• A cosmopolitan city centre café quarter

• A covered, all-weather concourse level providing access through the bus and railway stations, the Green and Union Square.

The overall aim is to make our city centre more attractive, greener, safer and better connected so that we can attract and retain people, businesses and investment to secure jobs for our children and grand-children.

Why is ACSEF involved?

ACSEF’s economic development strategy is shared by the public and private sectors. The action plan to achieve the goals of growing the economy and enhancing quality of life in the region are underpinned by the delivery of key priorities, one of which is city centre re-development.

When Sir Ian Wood announced his intention to pledge £50m towards the creation of a civic square and gardens on the strategically central Union Terrace Gardens site, ACSEF was the logical vehicle to drive the project forward

Why are you progressing with the City Garden Project when a majority voted “no” in the public consultation exercise?

ACSEF recognises that public opinion is more or less evenly split and, while there was a lack of consensus, there were some clear messages, including a desire for change as long as it incorporated key features such as gardens and cultural facilities.

The consultation was never intended to be a numbers game. The numbers only tell part of the story. It was not a referendum but an exercise to find out what was important to people in the city centre, what they did and did not want to see within a transformational project.

The findings show that opinion has been divided but ACSEF believes that, if many of the concerns are addressed, there is sufficient support.

Many of those saying no, did so based on inaccurate perceptions of what the project would and would not involve.

Why was the question “Do you support the City Square Project” in the online consultation set to a default “yes” answer?

The aim was to make the online consultation form as simple as possible.  Users could only choose a “yes” or “no” in the final question.  The buttons were linked together so only one choice could be selected.  To avoid the possibility of submissions being attempted without answering “yes” or “no”, one was set as a default which is common practice in web interface design.

How much did the consultation exercise cost, and who paid for it?

The consultation exercise cost £113,680 and was fully funded by Scottish Enterprise.

How much did the technical feasibility study cost, and who paid for it?

The technical feasibility study cost £190,000 and was fully funded by Scottish Enterprise.

Is the City Garden Project about building a car park and a shopping mall?

No this is absolutely not true. One of the key objectives of the public consultation was to ask the people of Aberdeen City and Shire what they wanted to see in it. These findings will form part of the design brief which will go out to an international competition. The short-listed designs will show how it would look and what would be in the space and will go out for further consultation.

This myth arose through mis-interpretation of the technical feasibility study which did show car parking as one possible use of part of the space and suggested boutique type retail activity as another use of the concourse space.

It is important to note the drawings in the technical feasibility study are conceptual illustrations and not a final design.

Will the end result simply be a flat, concrete, windswept square?

Absolutely not. The vision is to create an attractive, vibrant focal point for the city centre that will attract residents and tourists.

ACSEF has always said that gardens will form half if not more of the overall five acres of space that will be created. Equally, the space will not be flat as the levels of all four sides are different. The design brief will take account of the change in levels and the aim is to use swept and stepped landscaping to design an attractive space that uses the natural topography creatively.

What will happen to Peacock Visual Arts?

At all times, ACSEF tried to work with Peacock on an integrated approach to the City Garden project and it will continue to support and promote the vital contribution Peacock makes to the arts.

How will you pay for the City Garden Project?

ACSEF has always maintained that half the funding should come from the private sector with the remaining £70 million coming from national sources of capital funding for major infrastructure projects. Most recently, the project team has been examining the role of a TIF (Tax Incremental Finance) vehicle to deliver the remaining funding.

The important fact is that the funding required will not come from Aberdeen City Council’s revenue budget and will therefore not detract from vital local services.

Will Council Tax payers in Aberdeen end up paying for any cost overun?

Reasonable contingency funds will be set aside to meet the cost of any unforeseen costs.

Who will own the City Garden Project once it is complete?

The land will most likely remain in the ownership of the City and will be leased on a long lease to the legal entity that is established to build and subsequently manage the facilities. This legal entity will most likely be a charitable trust.

Why can’t the current Gardens be kept as they are, and perhaps deck over the dual carriageway and railway line?

Decking over the dual carriageway and railway line only would result in a reduction in size of the current gardens. This would not improve access to the gardens nor would it improve the connectivity of the City Centre or provide the catalyst for transformation and regeneration that is required to secure the city’s long-term prosperity.