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Drugs Action building to get a facelift thanks to Green THI

The Green Townscape Heritage Initiative has awarded more than £40,000 to an Aberdeen drugs charity.

Drugs Action has received a £43,504.50 grant for building repairs and reinstatement of architectural details to the exterior of its premises at 7 Hadden Street.

Drugs Action is the latest organisation to benefit from funding from the Green THI. The money will be used to restore the traditional style of shop front to the premises on Hadden Street, as well as repair and reinstate traditional windows and doors on the Exchange Street and Exchange Lane elevations, together with masonry repairs. The work is due to begin on Monday [3 October].

The Green THI is a five-year conservation-led programme aimed at restoring Aberdeen’s historic Green to its former glory. It was set up to tackle the problems of rundown historic buildings and streetscape where longstanding economic and structural decline have undermined the character of the architecturally rich area. Works are underway on the Tivoli Theatre, Guild Street and 46-50 Market Street, which together with the completed improvements to the streetscape are helping to transform the historic heart of the city.

This Regency-style building was built in 1903 by architects Kelly and Nicol as a warehouse and retail building for W Smith and Son Seedsmen. In more recent years it has been converted into residential flats on the upper floors and houses the offices of Drugs Action on the ground and basement floors.

Drugs Action has been working throughout Grampian for 25 years to reduce the harm associated with drug use to individuals, families and the community. It provides a range of services to drug users, ex-users and their families ranging from advice and information regarding 'safer' drug use through to intensive work with dependent drug users to support positive changes in their drug use and related areas.

General manager Senga MacDonald said: “We are delighted that we will be able to make these improvements to the building. First impressions are very important when people are accessing services, and give a strong message to service users.

“As a charity, we need to ensure that our funds are spent on direct service provision and without the support of THI these improvements would not have been possible”.

Green THI project manager Graham Young said: “This is another important piece in the jigsaw. Restoring Drugs Actions’ premises to a more traditional style of shop frontage will make a big improvement to the streetscape scene in the THI area.

“Several other projects, including neighbouring blocks in Market Street and Hadden Street, are under development and further grant award announcements will follow in the coming months”.

Grant schemes are available to nearly all property owners in the Green THI area who wish to undertake high quality repair and restoration of buildings with architectural or group merit.

The initiative will enable The Green to play a key role in city centre redevelopment and provide the important first impression of the city and Aberdeenshire to visitors arriving by bus, boat or rail. The revitalised Green will have an important role in linking Union Street with the bus and railway stations and commercial developments south of Union Street.

There is obvious potential for the development of a distinct city neighbourhood in The Green, characterised by cafes, restaurants, specialist shops, galleries and a revitalised Tivoli Theatre. The Merchant Quarter Association is working to create such an area, which provides a new vibrant, cultural, “grown-up” area for Aberdeen, centred around brasserie-style food and drink, lifestyle businesses and independent shopping, supplemented by a range of festivals; the creation of an artistic gateway with themed lighting, art, sculptures and street furniture.

It is hoped that the Green Townscape Heritage Initiative, which will last for five years, will completely regenerate the area by both restoring the historic fabric of The Green and attracting new uses appropriate for a 21st century city.

The Green THI covers the area between Union Street and Guild Street, from Shiprow to Bridge Street, including the Adelphi, the Green, and Market Street.

The Green THI is a partnership between Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen City Heritage Trust, The Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and Scottish Enterprise.

It has secured £1.4million of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and another £1.4million contributed by Aberdeen City Council (£525,000), Historic Scotland (£350,000), and Scottish Enterprise (£525,000).

For further information about the Green THI contact project manager Graham Young by calling 01224 523318, email gryoung@aberdeencity.gov.uk, or write to The Green THI, C/O Aberdeen City Council, Business Hub 4 Ground Floor North, Marischal College, Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1AB.

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