Empty Aberdeen shops ‘return to pre-Covid levels’

Shop occupancy figures on what was once Aberdeen’s flagship shopping street has improved back to pre-Covid levels, according to a new survey.

Union Street was once Aberdeen’s main retail hub, but since 2009 faced competition from the Union Square complex with shops, restaurants and a cinema.

Commercial property expert Richard Noble said from August the street level vacancy rate was down to 18%, back to where it was in February 2020.

He told BBC Scotland News this was a “pleasant surprise”.

Mr Noble is with FG Burnett, a property consultancy based in Aberdeen.

“Since 2020 we have seen the percentage rise from 18% to 25%, peaking in November 2022,” he said of the vacancy rate.

“Since that time the number of empty units has gradually been falling from a high of 48 to 34.”

He cited factors including a “gradual improvement in sentiment” since the pandemic, and a more flexible approach from landlords in relation to rent, incentives and lease duration.

Mr Noble described an empty shops grant scheme launched by the city council last year as “crucial”.

It was revealed last month that 10 new businesses have been helped to open on Union Street in the first year of the project.

The £195,000 fund covers up to 50% percent of the project costs.

He said it was accepted that Union Street does not look as it did in its “heyday”, changing from being the city’s main retail thoroughfare, and would continue to evolve.

Mr Noble said he was feeling more “optimistic”.

He explained: “Given the success of the empty shops grant scheme, if a similar scheme could be introduced for upper floors that might encourage developers to show a bit more interest in these upper floors, then I think that would be money well spent.

“I think that would be an easy win.”

He added: “I would emphasise there’s still an awful long way to go. And I think the public realm still needs to improve quite dramatically. Whether that’s street furniture, planting or cleanliness of the street – there’s a lot to do on that front.”