A Vibrant Aberdeen Is Vital for Future Growth
By Richard Noble, director, FG Burnett Ltd

Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce should be congratulated on the publication of their Genius Loci paper recently. It outlined the visions of a cross section of the business community, politicians and academics on how we can re-energise our city centre.

I believe a lively and attractive city centre is vital to attract and then retain the current and future generations of professionals and entrepreneurs which underpins commerce and industry in the north east of Scotland.

Debates like this can only be a good thing, however, I do find it frustrating that the academics talk of the importance for city centres to be bustling and culturally diverse and yet both our universities have chosen to leave the city centre (a process that is continuing) to campuses on the edge of town - a strategy which has not done us any favours in terms delivering a cosmopolitan city centre.

I often hear criticism of our new “covered malls”, primarily Bon Accord and St Nicholas and the new Union Square shopping developments, but the malls owners are brilliant at what they do in providing superb shopping environments. The massive investment by Land Securities/British Land in the Bon Accord and St Nicholas centres, and Hammerson in Union Square, should be applauded and these prime schemes will continue to flourish because of the expertise of those owners, who realise that environment is key.

At the moment these three centres have very few ‘voids’ and the refurbishment of Bon Accord Centre has led to the introduction of Pret, Café Rouge and Di Maggios, all newcomers to the city and a real positive. Given the lack of opportunities for retailers in these schemes we are seeing vacancies within the prime stretch of Union Street reducing. I was pleased to see a pragmatic approach from the City Council in giving consent to HSBC for the old Internationale and a deal has just been completed in relation to the former USC.

I am excited at the prospect of the architectural competition in relation to Union Terrace Gardens and I cannot wait to see the visions of the world class architects for what is a key site. I believe that once these visions are put before the public the doubters can be converted and we can create something really special.

The Yes Vote for the Aberdeen City Centre BID is a tremendous boost and I am certain that the BID Company will deliver projects which will be of considerable benefit to our city centre. There is a very good chance businesses outwith the BID footprint may provide financial support for specific projects, and while this is exactly the initiative we need to breathe life back into the city centre, I would also like to see a City Centre Tsar appointed with the specific remit of delivering results.

Aberdonians have over the last decade been bombarded with “visions” and Grand Designs for the city centre with absolutely no delivery of any sort but with the BID I believe we will see projects which become a reality.

I think delivery of a solution including transport is not only possible at UTG but vital.
We need to encourage people to come into our city, parking needs to be easier not harder - there should be no parking charges after 6pm.
We need to focus on leisure activities and cultural events which will bring people back into the city centre. I urge the large employers of the city who need to attract and keep key employees, particularly within the energy sector, to find a way to support the BID, whether by direct financial support or sponsorship of a particular festival or event.