Redevelopment of Aberdeen music venue ‘under review’

Plans to redevelop performing arts venue The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen are being placed “under review” over funding concerns.

The £8.3m project received the green light from Aberdeen Performing Arts (APA), the organisation which manages the venue alongside another two of the city’s main arts spaces, last summer.

The development of the 550-capacity venue would see its performance space expanded, as well as new rehearsal and studio spaces. 

Aberdeen Council asked for an update on progress during an annual performance report into its arm’s length organisations last week.

When Councillor Marie Boulton asked if APA was moving ahead with the project, Chief Executive Sharon Burgess said: “It’s not off the table, it’s just under review”.

“The ambitions to develop it are still very much at the forefront of our mind,” Burgess said. “However due to the uncertainty around funding, this has been pushed back ever so slightly.”

During the meeting, Burgess also said there wouldn’t be an “immediate impact” to APA following the Scottish government’s decision to reinstate a £6.6m cut to Creative Scotland but added the whole sector could feel a hit in time.