Owners and managers of shops, cafes, and services on Union Street Central today put their weight behind a campaign to reassure people the area is open for business during major improvement works.
The works to the Union Street Central area - between the Market Street and Bridge Street junctions – will make it more attractive and vibrant while promoting walking and cycling as part of the City Centre and Beach Masterplan. The works include new pavements with Scottish whin stone, locally-sourced granite for the new street surface including cycle lanes, and will help to create a plaza pavement entrance to the new market building.
During the works, access will continue to all shops and businesses for pedestrians, as well as access for delivery vehicles.
Angela Smith, who owns Aberdeen Gift And Tourist Shop, said: “It’s important that people know the city centre and Union Street is open for business and that everybody is welcome whether you are local or a tourist.”
Bob Smith, who owns Aberdeen Vinyl Records, said: “The campaign is a reminder to everybody that Union Street is well and truly open.
“Shops have and are bringing in lots of stock which is unique to the city so there are lots of reasons to come to Union Street.”
Kenny Bruce, centre manager at The Trinity Centre, said: “There is a wide variety of shops, cafes and services in the Union Street Central with something for everybody and businesses are here and ready to welcome people to the area.”
Colin Thomson, commercial manager at The Trinity Centre, added: “It’s important that people continue to emphasise the positivity and continue to spread the word that Union Street Central is open for business.”
The works for the first few months will include trial holes dug in the road to find exact locations of utilities, removing all street furniture on the south side then the north side, removing the road surface, installing drains, gully traps, ducting, and kerbing.
In the first few weeks, There is some activity taking place with surveying and other inspections which do not involve cutting through the road surface at present so there is no visual impact on the Union Street Central.
The works, which are being carried out by Morrison Construction in parallel to the works being carried out at the new market building, include several mitigations for shops and businesses in the area including:
- Access to all shops and businesses for pedestrians;
- Access for delivery vehicles;
- One lane east-bound will be available at all times for emergency vehicles, refuse collections, and deliveries. Existing business loading restrictions will continue no loading 8am to 9.30am, 12.30pm to 2.30pm, 4.30pm to 6pm.
- The taxi rank in Back Wynd will be for day and night taxis;
- Buses have been re-routed either via the bus priority route (Market Street, Guild Street, and Bridge Street), Union Terrace, or Schoolhill – see bus company websites for information on individual routes.
A works site compound is to be created in Union Street Central area and works will move east to west (from Market Street to Bridge Street) with information and colourful hoarding surrounding the closed-off area.
The area is being split into three sections of 100m each, moving south and north of the street, to allow for a continuous access road through the site for taxis, delivery vehicles and cyclists.
Works are due to be completed, depending on what is uncovered by utility companies, weather, and world-wide supply-chain availability of materials, in autumn 2025.
The City Council is to receive £20million from the UK Levelling Up Fund which will be used towards the development of Union Street Central and the new market building.
Traders in Union Street Central area include:
(south side)
Barclays
Greggs
Millets
The HMV Shop
Trinity Centre
Clothes & Home
Pep & Co
Poundland
Chopstix Noodle Bar
Primark
Northern Diamond
Nationwide
Refill Station
Vapes & Phones
Cancer Research UK
Taco Bell
McDonalds
Popeyes
JD Sports
Aberdeen Gift And Tourist Shop
Aberdeen Vinyl Records
New market building
HSBC
Attic
Dizzy’s
(north side)
Jamieson & Carry
Rolex
TAG Heuer
Vacant
Ramsdens
Adams Watch Specialist
Bargain Buys
Arcadia Bar & Games
German Doner Kebab
Beaverbrooks
iCrack
Peterkins
Vacant
Vacant
Smart Mobile
Timpsons & The Watch Workshop
Pro Mobile
RBS