A rare joint editorial campaign, named ‘Fresh Start,’ has been launched by three prominent Scottish news publications – The Courier, The Press and Journal, and The Sunday Post. The campaign advocates for significant reforms to business rates relief regulations in Scotland, aiming to reverse the proliferation of vacant commercial properties and bolster local economies across Aberdeen and Scotland as a whole.
The core proposal of the ‘Fresh Start’ campaign is a change to current business rates relief rules, specifically calling for all vacant commercial properties to be eligible for a 12-month exemption from non-domestic rates immediately upon becoming empty. This contrasts with existing policies, which often involve shorter initial relief periods or a delay before certain exemptions apply, with specific terms varying by local authority.
Since April 1, 2023, Scottish local authorities have been granted autonomy in determining their individual empty property relief policies. For instance, the City of Edinburgh Council’s policy, updated in April 2024, provides a 50% rates relief for three months, after which full rates are applied, with a six-month occupancy period required before a new relief application is considered.
Similarly, Fife Council offers 100% relief for three months, followed by 10% relief until the property is reoccupied. The campaign contends that more immediate and extended support for unoccupied units could act as a catalyst for new businesses, thereby increasing footfall and strengthening community resilience throughout Scotland.
In Aberdeen, a survey by commercial property firm FG Burnett, published in February, found that 45 of 190 ground-floor units on Union Street were vacant – nearly 24% – up from 21% the previous year and 18% in February 2020. The situation has been compounded by a new non-domestic rates revaluation, with figures released in January 2026 showing widespread increases across the city.
Aberdeen Inspired chief executive Adrian Watson has already added his voice to a Scottish Retail Consortium campaign calling for a permanent business rates discount for retail, hospitality and leisure premises, warning that without parity with England, “the number of empty units and boarded-up premises on our high streets” will grow.
North-east MSP Douglas Lumsden has gone further, stating that Freedom of Information data showing 650 vacant commercial properties in Aberdeen during 2022/23, including 389 offices, 137 industrial units and 89 shops, demonstrated that “the business rates system at present is killing businesses across Aberdeen.”
The new campaign plans to combine in-depth reporting, data analysis, personal experiences from readers, expert opinions, and rigorous political scrutiny to thoroughly examine the challenges confronting local economies while also identifying actionable solutions.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Craig Walker, Editor of The Press and Journal, stated:
“Businesses have faced huge challenges in recent years and, as a result, our traditional high streets have bore the brunt. The reality is we’re never going to get back the days of chain store after chain store filling those units, however, there is still huge potential to make the high streets somewhere people want to go to spend money, support business and help bring back to life.”
Walker further explained:
In Case You Missed it:
Our Union Street chief calls for business rates rethink for city centre
Anger at Aberdeen business rates increase
Concern as award-winning self-catering firm facing ‘slow death’ from £30,000 rise in business rates from April
Business Rates Relief cut sparks industry backlash despite £68 Billion spending package
“Fresh Start is calling for change to the existing rates relief rules but it will also highlight what is already great about our town and city centres. We’ll showcase those thriving in spite of the extreme challenges facing business but there will also be some tough tales of businesses struggling to survive and the tough choices being made every day.”
“We feel what we’re campaigning for is a simple measure which has the potential to have a big impact across Scotland and put our town and city centres on a firm footing for success in the future.”
The ‘Fresh Start’ campaign is now live across the print, digital, and social platforms of The Courier, The Press and Journal, and The Sunday Post.
