The Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee met on 12 September 2025 to discuss a range of topics, including progress updates on various projects, strategic transport appraisals, digital connectivity, and the Net Zero Technology Centre. The committee was also scheduled to discuss a summary of a report of inquiry from the Economy and Fair Work Committee.

Here are some of the topics that were scheduled to be discussed in greater detail:

Aberdeen Rapid Transit Strategic Business Case

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Aberdeen Rapid Transit (ART) Strategic Business Case (SBC). The vision for ART was identified in the 2021 approved Nestrans Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) as an ambition to develop a high quality, high frequency mass transit network across the city on key strategic growth corridors and linking key destinations.

The SBC identified a preferred way forward and outlined the anticipated benefits of ART as including:

• Improved public transport accessibility to key regional health facilities.
• A 12% increase in public transport trips.
• Public transport journey time savings of around 32 minutes on a journey between the Airport and a proposed new mobility hub at Portlethen.
• Journey time and reliability benefits for non-ART buses also operating along ART corridors through provision of bus priority.
• A reduction of over 50,000 daily vehicle kilometers compared to the reference case across the region.
• Improved access to services, employment and education for the people living in the most deprived areas.
• Enabling wider development and investment along these corridors.

The committee was to consider a recommendation to approve the Aberdeen Rapid Transit Strategic Business Case, and to approve progression to a programme level Outline Business Case.

Strategic Transport Appraisal - Project Proposals

The committee was scheduled to consider a report seeking approval for four project proposals to be delivered within the Deal timeframe, concluding in March 2027. These proposals have been developed to utilise the remaining £575,000 of funding within the Strategic Transport Appraisal (STA) workstream.

The four project proposals were:

• Peterhead / Fraserburgh / Ellon Future Scenarios Study
• Regional Transport Impacts of Renewable Energy Transition
• A90(N)/A952 Cortes Junction Design Work
• Laurencekirk / Mearns Area Wider Connectivity Measures

The committee was to consider a recommendation to approve the progression of the four project proposals, and to approve the allocation of the currently available £575,000 STA funding to fund the proposals.

Digital Connectivity Updates Including Project Gigabit

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on digital connectivity, including Project Gigabit. Project Gigabit is the UK Government's connectivity programme investing £5 billion to increase the availability of gigabit-capable broadband connections across the UK.

The committee was also scheduled to receive updates on the progress being made through the Reaching 100% Programme, and ongoing work being carried out by the Digital Engagement Team through the Aberdeen City Region Deal Digital Theme.

It was noted that developing interventions led by the Aberdeen City Region Deal to improve digital connectivity remains challenging, until there is a full picture of what Project Gigabit will deliver across the Region.

External Transportation Links to Aberdeen South Harbour - Progress Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on timescales and the project finance costs in relation to the External Transportation Links to Aberdeen South Harbour.

The committee was to consider a recommendation to note the progress of the scheme with regard to the ongoing detailed design and contract preparation work and the progression of the land acquisition processes. The committee was also to consider a recommendation that, subject to approval from both the UK and Scottish Governments and provided all relevant statutory and/or regulatory approvals/ permissions are in place, to agree to the inclusion of the construction works associated with the ETZ Doonies junction into the ASHLR main works contract. The committee was also to consider a recommendation that the Chair and Vice Chair of the Joint Committee write to Scottish Water and Network Rail, recognising the regional importance of the Aberdeen South Harbour Link Road, and requesting their full support and prioritisation of this project and progress dialogue with urgency, in order to conclude the design stage and proceed to contract procurement.

Aberdeen City Region Deal Quarterly Dashboard Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of the last quarter (Q1 2025/26) of the Aberdeen City Region Deal Programme under the headings Governance, Finance, Risk and Benefits.

The committee was to consider a recommendation to note the content of the quarterly Programme Dashboard.

Summary of Report of Inquiry from Economy and Fair Work Committee

The committee was scheduled to discuss a summary of the report of inquiry from the Economy and Fair Work Committee. In May 2025, the Economy and Fair Work Committee published a report Inquiry into Scotland's City and Growth Region Deals.

The committee was to consider a recommendation to note the summary of the findings of the Economy and Fair Work Committee's Inquiry into Scotland's City and Regional Growth Deals, and to agree that Joint Committee Members send a letter to the relevant Ministers seeking to open dialogue around the second City Region Deal.

Aberdeen City Region Deal 5G Pop Up Network

The committee was scheduled to consider a report to inform and seek approval from Joint Committee for 5G Pop-Up Network project to proceed with the second deployment.

The committee was to consider a recommendation to approve that 5G Pop-Up Network project proceed with the second deployment.

Aberdeen CIty Region Deal Digital Innovation Lab Business Case

The agenda notes that the committee may wish to consider this item with the press and public excluded, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to financial or business affairs of a particular person (other than the Council).