Scotland
The Aberdeen City Region: A Transformation Journey
Artist’s impression of the new Aberdeen Market
Recent years have brought a change in the way people interact with their communities. The Covid-19 pandemic, cost of living crisis, and a global shift towards digital consumerism are among the many factors that have influenced this change.
Across the Aberdeen City Region, organisations are introducing measures to combat these challenges and revitalise the region’s city and town centres. The aim is to diversify communities, restore the region’s proud heritage, and cater to the changing needs of the public and local businesses.
There are a number of regional initiatives working to bring this vision to life.
Aberdeen City Centre & Beach Masterplan The Aberdeen City Centre and Beach Masterplan sets out a long-term plan to transform the city centre and beach area. Over the last decade, Aberdeen City Council has been investing in a series of enhanced public realm areas, buildings, and spaces that will support economic growth, improve the vibrancy and vitality of the city, and boost overall footfall.
Union Terrace Gardens
Union Terrace Gardens reopened in 2022 after a £28.3 million major refurbishment project. The Gardens now provide an accessible green space at the heart of the city centre, including a play area, landscaping, seating, and events space. There are also three new pavilions which are home to local businesses including a wine bar and cafe, bringing new activity into the space.
Aberdeen Market The development of a new Aberdeen Market is currently underway following a £20 million allocation for Aberdeen city centre from the first round of UK Government Levelling Up Funding. The market will be a destination venue in the heart of the city centre, featuring an international-style food and drink outlet promoting local produce and goods, alongside continental style delicatessens and cafés. A key element of the new market will be to improve connectivity and accessibility between Union Street and the adjacent bus and rail stations.
Public Realm Upgrades
The Masterplan focuses on facilitating better connections by linking the city centre and beachfront via the Beach Boulevard, revitalising Union Street as a primary east/west connecting spine and creating an extensive programme of streetscape works for key city neighbourhoods. Phase 1 of major public realm works on Union Street Central are currently underway. These works will result in major improvements to this section of the street, including the creation of a two-way segregated cycle lane and amended street layout to prioritize pedestrians, while retaining access to public transport. The works also allow for pavement widening, the introduction of urban greenery and opportunities for street occupation.
Union Street Empty Shops Action Plan Known as the ‘Granite mile’, Union Street is the central thoroughfare in Aberdeen, struggling with a vacancy rate of almost 25% towards the end of 2022. To address this, Aberdeen City Council launched the Union Street Empty Shops Action Plan in December 2022. The Plan involves a series of interventions that the Council, together with partners, will progress to revive the city’s main street.
Union Street Empty Shops Grant Scheme The Grant Scheme was launched in response to changes to Non- Domestic Rates (Empty Property Relief) when this became devolved to Local Authorities on 1 April 2023. A capital grant scheme of £500,000 from Aberdeen City Council (since increased to £1m due to demand), the scheme offers new tenants and landlords a match-funded award of up to £35,000 to support internal renovations to vacant ground floor premises in order to enable reoccupation. The objectives of the scheme are to reduce the number of vacant units on Union Street, leverage private investment, support new business start-ups and entrepreneurs, and create employment opportunities. New businesses currently being supported by the scheme include a local fashion boutique, a local coffee takeaway, a watch retailer, and a gaming/card trading store.
Beach 20 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MONTHLY 2024
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