Four business including a fashion boutique, a coffee takeaway, a watch retailer, and a restaurant/takeaway have been given a boost thanks to the Council’s Union Street Empty Shops Action Plan.
The businesses have been awarded money from the Union Street Empty Shops Grant Scheme, which is a key part of the plan, with a total allocation of £140,000 and has also leveraged £1.07million in additional private investment. An update on the Action Plan was approved at the Finance and Resources Committee yesterday March 13, 2024.
Committee convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “The Union Street Empty Shops Grant Scheme, which offers match-funded grants of up to £35,000 to help bring vacant units back into use, has been incredibly popular and will help to provide a boost to Union Street.
“I am pleased to see businesses opening up on Union Street which have made use of the grant scheme, and I wish them all the best for the future. Aberdeen City Council has committed a further £500,000 to the Union Street Empty Shops Grant Scheme – bringing the total investment up to £1million – given the level of interest.
The report to committee said since the start of 2024, momentum for the Union Street Empty Shops Grant Scheme has continued to build and a further nine applications have been received and if approved, total allocation will rise to about £455,000.
Reflecting the demand and success of the scheme to date, Council approved an additional £500,000 for the grant scheme and extended it into 2025/26 at last Wednesday’s Budget meeting. The report to committee said Union Street Empty Shops Action Plan, which was approved in December 2022, highlighted the success of the plan in reducing the number of vacant shops on Union Street. The report shows that the number of vacant units on Union Street decreased from 47 in September 2022 to 37 in February 2024. The city centre footfall also increased by 17.8% in 2023, boosted by cultural events and cruise ship arrivals.
The Union Street Empty Shops Grant Scheme, which launched in July 2023, offers match-funded grants of up to £35,000 to new tenants or landlords to support physical works required for new uses of vacant units.
Partnerships with city centre stakeholders to deliver activity in line with the Action Plan have been formed with Our Union Street and continue with Aberdeen Inspired.
