Restoration project creates stunning new homes on Union Street

A restoration project which has transformed abandoned Union Street offices into luxury homes is being hailed for bringing fresh sparkle to Aberdeen’s famous ‘Granite Mile’.

The disused floors above 139 Union Street – once home to fondly-remembered city centre shops – have been turned into high-end apartments by a specialist developer, City Restoration Project Ltd.

The six properties, which range from £155,000 to £240,000, have just gone on the market, starting an exciting new chapter in the street’s illustrious story.

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Virtual tours are available for all of the properties by clicking any of the links below:

• Apartment A // one bedroom // £175,000
• Apartment B // two bedrooms // £225,000
• Apartment C // two bedrooms // £225,000
• Apartment D // two bedrooms // £240,000
• Apartment E // two bedrooms // £180,000
• Apartment F // one bedroom // £155,000

Restoration

City Restoration Project Ltd is led by Dean and Darren Gowans, and the brothers have been working for almost a year to turn the property into one and two-bedroom homes.

They have painstakingly restored original period features, such as ceiling cornicing and herringbone oak flooring, and fused them with luxurious modern touches including marble bathrooms, German-engineered kitchens and Silestone quartz worktops.

The homes all have enhanced acoustic sound insulation throughout to silence the hustle and bustle of the city centre outside - and the building itself has a rare triple-aspect, offering views of Union Street to the front, Back Wynd to the side and The Green and Nu-Art to the rear.

The developers said they were drawn to building by its beautiful granite façade and the opportunity to contribute to the regeneration of the city centre.

Dean said: “This is our second build in the area after developing 148 Union Street a few years ago and we were excited by the potential to create bright and spacious homes within these historic buildings.

“This property has beautiful original features like 3.6 metre high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows in some parts, which are a developer’s dream.”

Darren says the brothers are actively seeking similar sites for development, adding: “City centre living – giving people entertainment, leisure and work on their doorstep – is a growing trend in most UK cities.”

“The character and charm of Union Street buildings is now being enhanced by major investment in projects like Union Terrace Gardens and the Aberdeen Art Gallery, so Aberdeen has as much to offer in this space as anyone else.”

City living

The creation of high-quality urban homes is one of the eight objectives of the Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan, the local council’s regeneration blueprint for Union Street and the surrounding area.

Councillor Marie Boulton, a key architect of the Masterplan and chair of the city’s planning and development committee, believes the development is a benchmark step towards bringing European-style chic urban living to Union Street.

“It is the ambition of City Centre Masterplan to deliver high-quality city centre living and I am delighted to see the excellent redevelopment of the upper floors of 139 Union Street,” she said.

“The attention to detail of the historic features and the high quality finishes is exceptional – and this certainly marries with the vision we see for the city centre going forward.”

Russell Borthwick, Chief Executive of the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “Successful city centres are those that once again are places that people want to go live, work and spend leisure time.

“The developers at 139 Union Street have done a superb job, sympathetically fusing the old with the modern to create great living spaces with exceptional views right on our main street.”

Adrian Watson, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Inspired, added: “We are delighted to see residential development of this superb quality on our main thoroughfare of Union Street,” he said.

“This fits perfectly with the city living strand of the Masterplan, as we look to bring more people into the heart of our city to live, work and of course enjoy the many attractions and amenities on offer.”

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We are already seeing strong demand for the properties.

Aberdein Considine national estate agency director, Alan Cumming, said: “This part of Aberdeen is undergoing a multi-million pound transformation at the moment, and with the redevelopment of Union Terrace Gardens and part-pedestrianisation of Union Street, it is going to be a beautiful place to live.

“And after tax changes announced earlier this month, all of these properties are exempt from the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).”

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