City residents vote in favour of controversial plans to redevelop Union Terrace Gardens

Residents of Aberdeen have backed £140m plans to redevelop the city’s Union Terrace Gardens.

The city voted in favour of the controversial plans in a referendum, with 45,301 residents of Aberdeen voting in favour of the City Garden Project against 41,175 voting to retain the existing gardens.

The futuristic Garden City Project is backed by city businessman Sir Ian Wood, who is offerng up to £85m towards the scheme.

Following an architectural competition, designs for the Garden City Project dubbed ‘the Granite Web’ have been drawn up by US architect Diller, Scofidio & Renfro and Scottish firm Keppie Design.

Opponents call the scheme unaffordable, and question the need to develop an existing area of green space.

Detailed plans will now be drawn up before a planning application is submitted later this year.