TDT Statement
This page presents a letter outlining the project's journey, from its initial conception and key milestones to the reasons behind its conclusion. It offers a transparent look at the phases of development and the lessons learned along the way.
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Agreed by the Board of Trustees
Torry Development Trust
April 2025
01
Victoria Road School – Epilogue
In 2018, the locally evolved plans brought together by the Torry Development Trust (TDT) to save the granite heritage of the former school buildings at Victoria Road to meet housing and community needs took a major step forward when Grampian Housing Association (GHA) agreed to purchase the former school site as it was being sold on the open market by the Council.
02
Stalled, then Stopped!
In 2019, the project was deemed affordable and met all the criteria to secure major funding and was progressing towards the start of works when it was impacted by a major fire. Even then, the project regrouped, replanned, and continued. Then, in 2020, everything stopped overnight due to COVID. This effectively stalled the project for a two-year period that was followed by global material shortage, skill shortages, rising energy costs, an explosion in interest rates, and then austerity measures in public spending in 2024. This meant that the project was deemed unaffordable. Sadly, GHA's owned site now sits alongside a long list of some seventy-plus abandoned Aberdeen sites where there is no commitment to funding to save our heritage buildings and community spaces. Even more sad is that many hundreds of community-focused projects across Scotland are in the same position.
03
Abandoned!
We are as scunnered as you are about this. The TDT wants to thank everyone for their support and patience over many years, whilst all possible avenues to secure a future for our granite heritage were pursued to secure vital funding to create the first community regeneration project in Torry.
Going forward in 2025, there is a pressing need to make the case for all future opportunities to invest in and save our community assets and to work with others who seek the same outcomes.