The latest FG Burnett Union Street Aberdeen survey results are in. Every 6 months since February 2020 we have investigated the levels of vacancy in relation to ground floor units on Union Street. Our latest survey was carried out on Saturday 31st January 2026.
We are afraid to report that the facts do not present a positive picture versus 6 months ago. One can start with the highlights that Durty Murphy’s, Noodle Library, Cash Convertors, Jungle Berry, Babai Cafe and Fone Spot have taken up residence since August last year but on the other hand Attic, Chopstix, Sally Beauty, Geek Retreat, Starbucks, Printroom and Burger King have all ceased trading. There have been two other changes that don’t affect the stats, Sovereign Mens Salon has become Adder Freelance Studio and Luna Chinese Bistro has become Social Monkey. There are a few openings in the pipeline and that will help, these will be captured in the next survey but then so will any new voids.
In terms of the bigger picture the latest survey shows that there are 45 voids representing 24% of the total. This is up from 23% in November and 21% in February 2025. The first FGB survey in February 2020 showed that the vacancy level was 18%.
It is interesting to look at how uses have changed over the 6 years of the survey. There have been a significant drop in the number of banks / building societies represented on Union Street and the same can be said for fashion & footwear. Charity Shops and Bookmakers are slightly down and mobile phone / vaping shops are only slightly up, which was a surprise. The independent phone fixers have replaced the national phone operators who have relocated into the covered malls. Food & Beverage operators ( restaurants, bars, coffee shops / takeaways) are up but not by as much as you would think, there has been a lot of operator changes in that market but no significant change in overall representation.
The road / public realm works between Market Street and Bridge Street continue to adversely affect those occupiers on either side of the road, the pedestrian access around the works area is tortuous and dangerous to navigate. It has been suggested that no work is carried out weekends, one would have expected all the stops being pulled out to get these works completed. The adverse effect to the city centre goes well beyond the geography of the works themselves. Vacancies within the works area have risen from 8 when the works started, currently standing at 12 or 28%. Much more could have been done to counter the inconvenience of the works including from an aesthetics perspective. Better screening, better signage / wayfinding.
There seems to be no strategy for the City Centre beyond a reliance on big ticket projects solving the challenges, Union Terrace Gardens and the development of Flint. As part of the City Centre masterplan a city centre Czar post was created, it was done away with within a short space of time which the private sector generally see as a mistake. The good work done in relation to the Union Street Empty Shop Grant Scheme should be acknowledged.
This will Richard Noble's last report on the FGB Union Street survey as he retires from the business at the end of April. His colleague in retail and leisure property Lisa Cowie will pick up the baton and, as Richard comments, "will hopefully report a more positive picture in November 26."
Richard further adds: "The survey is factual, many seem to appreciate the updates. It is not intended to be controversial or to “have a go”. As the Ronseal saying goes “it does exactly what it says on the tin!”
