Almost 30 business properties on Aberdeen’s Union Street closed down during the last financial year.
New figures obtained from Aberdeen City Council under freedom of information shows 27 properties pulled the shutters down during 2024/25.
Firms that left their Union Street premises included NatWest, We Too! and Sk:n (Skin) Aberdeen.
The figure compares with 2023/24, where 84 units were vacated by businesses that either moved or closed.
These included Barclays, Caffè Nero, Wood Group, Ladbrokes, and Bank of Scotland.
Aberdeen city centre has been plagued with issues in recent times, including delays to Union Street’s improvement works, road closures, bus gates and LEZs.
Simon Balaban, owner of Northern Diamond jewellery store, said prolonged roadworks outside his shop are destroying his business, with turnover down 70%.
Scottish Conservative North East MSP Liam Kerr said: “The devastating demise of Union Street lies solely at the front door of the harmful decisions being made by this shambolic council.
“Aberdeen City Council has taken their eye off the ball and allowed Union Street to fall into a sorry state of deterioration that is driving businesses and visitors away from the area.
“Traders who have remained loyal to Union Street throughout the delayed improvement works are paying the price for the council’s neglect of our city centre.
“This is compounded by the SNP’s crippling business rates regime and the council’s decision to implement permanent bus gates and LEZs in the city which are stripping businesses of footfall needed to survive.
“The council needs to get its house in order, ensure no more delays occur to the redevelopment of Union Street, and focus on breathing new life into our city centre rather than killing it through damaging decisions.”
