Aberdeen has been named as the second worst-hit area in Scotland for town centre vacancies, with more than one in five retail units in the city lying empty, according to new figures.
The latest statistics show that 20.7 per cent of high street shops in Aberdeen were vacant in 2023–24, well above the national average of 12.3 per cent. Only South Ayrshire recorded a higher vacancy rate, at 35.3 per cent.
The figures highlight the continued decline of Scotland’s town centres, with the average vacancy rate rising steadily from 11.4 per cent in 2021–22 to 11.9 per cent last year, and now 12.3 per cent.
In Aberdeenshire, the vacancy rate was significantly lower at 10.3 per cent, while Fife ranked third worst at 18.8 per cent. Other areas with high levels of vacant units included Dundee, North Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire (all at 17.7 per cent), Angus (17.4 per cent) and Falkirk (17 per cent).
At the other end of the scale, the Western Isles recorded the lowest vacancy rate at 3.3 per cent, followed by East Renfrewshire (4.6 per cent), Inverclyde (4.9 per cent), Edinburgh (5.4 per cent) and Shetland (5.8 per cent).
Retail experts say the figures reflect broader changes in shopping habits and long-term underinvestment in high streets, with out-of-town retail parks and online shopping both playing a significant role in the decline of traditional town centres.
Scottish Labour economy spokesperson Daniel Johnson blamed the Scottish Government for failing to support high streets through the challenges of recent years.
“The SNP has overseen decades of decline in Scotland’s high streets,” he said. “From our iconic cities to our small towns, high streets right across Scotland have been laid to waste.”
“Under the SNP, businesses are struggling, shops are lying empty and pavements are crumbling.”
“A Scottish Labour government will breathe fresh life into town centres by delivering fair funding for councils and overhauling business rates to level the playing field between local businesses and online giants.”
In response, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government said it was committed to supporting towns and businesses through economic challenges, pointing to a non-domestic rates relief package worth £733 million this year.
“We are working with businesses to drive economic growth and prosperity in our towns, cities and communities,” they said.
“Scottish Ministers have repeatedly called on the UK Government to reverse its decision to increase employers’ national insurance contributions, which the Scottish Chambers of Commerce have warned is damaging confidence, investment, growth and jobs.”
