Home / Business and Economy / Aberdeen's Union Street: From Ghost Town to Renaissance?
Aberdeen's Union Street: From Ghost Town to Renaissance?
28 Sep
Summary
- Aberdeen tackles empty shops with ambitious regeneration plans.
- Vacant units on Union Street are being filled through grants.
- City centre aims to become a destination with new markets and events.
Once a bustling hub, Aberdeen's Union Street now faces a significant challenge with numerous empty storefronts, a situation mirrored across the country due to the rise of online shopping and out-of-town retail. The city has embarked on an ambitious plan to combat this decline.
An intensive, community-led effort is underway to fill vacant units on Union Street. This involves identifying landlords, cleaning and painting empty properties, and offering financial incentives such as fit-out grants and business rate discounts. Since the initiative began, several units have been filled, with the rate of filling exceeding new vacancies.
The regeneration extends beyond filling shops, with a focus on creating a vibrant city center. Plans include a new indoor food and drink market and redeveloping the seafront to draw people back. Attention is also being paid to the often-overlooked upper floors of buildings, exploring ways to bring them into productive use.
This proactive approach, involving council, landlords, businesses, and volunteers, is seen as a model that other towns and cities could adopt. While challenges like fractured ownership and the cost of redevelopment persist, Aberdeen's efforts highlight the potential for revitalizing town centers through a joined-up strategy and a willingness to adapt to changing consumer habits.
