An emergency summit on the future of Aberdeen’s Union Street is being held next month, amid increasing concern over its continual decline.
The event on 9 November is being organised by city centre business improvement district (BID) Aberdeen Inspired, with support from the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce Vanguard initiative and sponsors.
Businesses and city centre representatives are being invited to attend the summit, to be held at the Douglas Hotel, which aims to find short and medium-term solutions - both temporary and permanent - that can breathe new life into the main thoroughfare.
It is proposed that the best ideas and initiatives will be taken forward with seed funding being secured to potentially attract further investment from partners and the private sector.
Aberdeen City Council is currently consulting on potential designs for the city centre as part of the Aberdeen City Centre and Beach Masterplan (CCMBP), with views being sought on detailed concepts for Union Street, Belmont Quarter, Schoolhill and Upperkirkgate, the West End, Aberdeen Market and Castlegate.
The designs include play areas, public art, events spaces and greening the area with trees, planters and rain gardens.
However, Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said it was imperative that immediate action is taken alongside the longer-term vision.
“Although the recent images of proposals for Union Street show promising potential for major improvement, there is a growing concern that if we don’t act now, it will become almost impossible to attract any organisations to fill the growing number of vacant units that would revitalise the city centre’s main artery,” he said.
“We have spoken to retailers, publicans, restauranteurs, other businesses, partner agencies, visitors and local residents who are becoming increasingly concerned about the detrimental impact the demise of our main street is having on civic pride and the local economy.
“In line with many other cities across the country and beyond, the loss of footfall is obviously leading to reduced spend in our city centre businesses, at a time when it has never been needed more.
“We need to think more laterally and creatively to come up with solutions that quickly improve the look and feel of our main high street before it’s too late.”
Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Russell Borthwick added: “Our Vanguard initiative launched in 2017 to give a range of people the opportunity to make positive change happen in the city and region and we’ll update attendees on the exciting progress of some of the projects on the day.
“But the important thing is looking forward - we have a large group of willing volunteers who are raring to go and a number of initiatives under discussion - so I’m confident that after the summit they’ll be ready to get things moving.”
Following a keynote address on what a city high street needs to be economically viable, the summit will feature panel sessions with commercial property agents, developers and BID levy payers from all sectors, who will set out their views on the challenges and potential solutions.
This will be followed by facilitated interactive group session, which aims to challenge the audience to come up with ideas that could be taken forward.
Aberdeen Inspired was established to attract, sustain and boost investment in Aberdeen’s city centre for the benefit of its levy payers and all those who live, work, shop and visit there.
In addition to levy payments, which go to support city centre improvements and initiatives, the BID brings in additional funding which that for every £1 of levy collected, at least £2 is invested in the city centre.
The BID footprint covers Union Street and the surrounding streets, including Broad Street, Market Street, Bridge Street, Huntly Street and Holburn Junction.
The summit is free to attend and open to paid-up levy payers of Aberdeen Inspired, as well as partner agencies, key stakeholders and decision-makers by invitation.
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