ABERDEEN Inspired is leading the charge for an exciting new initiative to repopulate Union Street with businesses and people.
Following the emergency summit on Union Street, the BID (Business Improvement District) is developing the idea of a coalition, with the sole remit to reverse Union Street’s fortunes.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “The concept of a coalition was met with real enthusiasm at our recent emergency summit. Aberdeen City Council also mentioned setting up a taskforce. We firmly believe that one organisation, wholly focused on tackling the problems facing Union Street, would have the best chance of success. We’ve been moving at considerable pace in discussions with stakeholders and will be able to unveil the details in the new year once all the pieces are in place.”
Around 170 people attended the emergency summit, generating a diverse range of idea and suggestions to halt the decline of the city’s high street. The extensive list of ideas has now been collated and reviewed.
Significant work is underway behind the scenes to establish the coalition as a priority. In the meantime, Aberdeen Inspired will re-focus on zoning, creative lighting, safety and cleanliness.
Recognising that the Granite Mile is one of the longest high streets in the country, it was suggested dividing the street into distinct geographic zones: West End, Union Street West, Union Street Central and Union Street East
Mr Watson explained: “This aligns with the recent proposals in the City Centre Masterplan. Concentrating on individual zones, rather than being daunted by looking at Union Street as a whole, would enable a more targeted and manageable approach where we could potentially see results happen more quickly This is something we believe the coalition could develop further.”
The increasing number of vacant units on Union Street is a major concern and one which prompted the emergency summit.
Aberdeen Inspired is already working with other partners on a vacant unit strategy but, while that is in development, the BID will work on a short-term solution to improve the look of vacant premises on Union Street whereby businesses and organisations are encouraged to adopt a vacant unit and transform its exterior.
In terms of safety, lighting and cleanliness, Aberdeen Inspired says it’s a case of “getting back to business as usual” following the pandemic.
The organisation has already been in touch with partners to re-instate the City Centre Safety Partnership and will work with others on the cleanliness of Union Street and on supporting lighting projects that focus on significant buildings and dark areas of Union Street.
Mr Watson commented: “Over the years, Aberdeen Inspired has both directly supported and drawn funding from local and national sources to support lighting projects, not least in Golden Square and the more recent Suspended Signage scheme. A creative lighting plan was put in place some years ago, but we need to review this to see how and where we can provide more and effective up-lighting that not only looks good but also improves safety.
Other themes which came from the summit included:
· Creation of a stand-alone brand, marketing campaign and digital presence for Union Street.
· Encouraging and facilitating greater residential occupancy, including accommodation for students, and other amenities for students
· Acceleration and streamlining of planning processes and simplifying planning zones
· A wide range of suggestions relating to financial incentives such as access to cheaper debt, business rates discounts tied into initiatives to clean business frontages, loans tied into upgrading buildings and setting up a regional investment fund
· Certain areas were also identified as meriting particular attention including aesthetically improving the steps leading to the Green, and suggestions that Union Street, as one of the longest streets in the country, be split into distinct geographic zones, the latter of which aligns to recent proposals in the City Centre Masterplan
· Initiatives which would make it easier for new or start-up business, including pop up shops, to open up on Union Street as well as a number of suggestions and incentives to encourage independent retailers to locate there
· Suggestions put forward to improve accessibility included improving connectivity between Union Street with other locations such as TECA, greener transport, a hop on/hop off bus, cheaper parking
· There were also suggestions to raise Union Street’s profile as a destination through initiatives such as city tours, a major city centre attraction, attracting and creating quirky venues to accommodate diverse events and more city centre events screened at venues such as Union Terrace Gardens, and creating a café culture.
