The station will be improved as part of the �200m development

The �200m Union Square development is under construction next to Aberdeen Railway Station.

It will have retail, leisure, catering, cinema and parking facilities. The scheme will also see major improvements made to the railway station.

Completion is scheduled for the Autumn of 2009.

'Exciting times'

The initial work will see a temporary car park being constructed on land between St Magnus House and the existing bus station on Guild Street.

Developer Hammerson is investing more than �6m in station upgrade works, including new lifts and the upgrading of existing lifts in College Street car park, providing disabled access to all station platforms.

There will also be a new ticket office, together with improvements to the trackside car park, and CCTV.

Council leader Kate Dean said of the nine-hectare development: "These are exciting times, Aberdeen is set to be one of the best shopping destinations in Scotland."