Bob Reid

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Genius Loci

Bob Reid - Town Planner, Planning Director, Halliday Fraser Munro

The Vision Zone

I spent most of my working life in the late nineties absorbed by Aberdeen City Centre. We had a ‘partnership’ in those days because the ‘P’ word was essential to gain access to government funding. Over 300 projects were carried out, mostly small, some medium, but all significant, and in 2002, Aberdeen City Centre Partnership [ACCP] saw off the mighty Glasgow Urban Realm project to take first prize and win a prestigious Scottish RTPI Award in recognition of its achievements. Real credit is due to the professional team that delivered project after project – the crowning glory probably being the new granite streetscape for Belmont Street and Back Wynd, together with the clever traffic management measures which followed. This was the sixth streetscape project Aberdeen had done and by far the best in terms of quality.

The ACCP recipe was simple. Everyone in the partnership had to contribute (funding, land, expertise) which could deliver projects. Partners’ resources were “spent” once they arrived on the table and accountability was maintained by a handful of appointed councillors. So a little went a long way and officials drove the delivery on the ground very hard. No one has devised a better process either before or since.

There were strategy documents produced – designing and justifying projects – most of which have either been completed, or whose rationale still remains so convincing they form part of the new City Centre Framework. These earlier studies included Heart of Aberdeen I and II, followed by the Aberdeen Urban Realm Strategy. The new City Centre Framework picks up where these studies left off and wisely doesn’t reinvent the wheel – at least in terms of what has to be done.

If there is any criticism of the ACCP years (and it would be honestly owned-up to) it would be that the partnership ducked its responsibilities when it came to the big issues. Two or three really grand projects, that have been obvious going all the way back to the Dobson Chapman Plan in the 1950s, still remain to be completed, or even started. They are:

• The pedestrianisation of Union Street (whether partial, time limited, lane limited, vehicle limited – there are many options)
• The regeneration of Union Terrace Gardens (by whatever means, to whatever design – the current status quo is not serving Aberdeen well)
• The regeneration of the Castlegate and especially the linkage to Aberdeen Beach

The reason these projects have not progressed – in whatever shape of form – has simply been that they are too politically sensitive for a consensus to have emerged supporting any move forward. The lack of progress was not down to any lack of ambition on the part of the ACCP.  I mentioned that I worked on ACCP in the late nineties – but for much of the previous decade I had worked in central Glasgow. There, the Miles Better campaign and City of Culture ‘gallous-ness’ proved to be a critical factor and key to future success. The prevailing mood became one that wanted, even expected, change. This backdrop has helped deliver a renaissance for the City with considerable spin-off for West Central Scotland. It enabled massive change to be progressed such as the pedestrianisation of Buchanan Street, much of Argyle Street and much of Sauchiehall Street. It also delivered very significant new development, mostly new offices, which were essential to underpin any post-industrial revival for the City.

Before I conclude this ‘Vision Zone’ insight let me set down an illuminating anecdote. The Council were working on Lottery Funding Bids for HMT and a senior councillor confronted me with the question – “What did we need an improved HMT for [with the inherent suggestion of a repertory theatre group] … we have the amateur dramatic groups at the Arts Centre – that’s good enough for me.” It was like a line from ‘Scotland the What’ – and a funny one at that. Doubtless many reading this will smile and see the humour. Worryingly, you might agree.

After many years of involvement in Aberdeen City Centre, I have concluded that a wider appreciation of the need for change (call it progress if you will) has to be accepted. An agreed City Centre Framework is a necessary prerequisite but its implicit agenda for change is still too challenging for many in Aberdeen. So my vision would be a community which has matured enough, gained sufficient confidence and self assurance that they campaign for progress rather than against it.

The Granite Zone

It might be stating the obvious but, with a progressive community, progress is possible. I would keep ‘it’ (progress) simple. Aberdonians go on ad nauseam about Union Street, yet they have voted big-time with their feet, for indoor, comfortable environments as far as their shopping is concerned. The big Centres: Bon Accord, St Nicholas, Trinity and now Union Square are hugely popular and successful, with footfall levels well in excess of similar scale operations in far bigger cities than Aberdeen. Justifiably so, I would say, when we have a climate that isn’t noted for its clemency. The continual evolution and renewal of these Centres is vital to remaining competitive. We hear of many shopping expeditions being made from Aberdeen to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

So my first and major intervention would be to make the outdoor parts of central Aberdeen – the parts which connect the four indoor Centres - as user friendly as possible. These parts are generally where Aberdeen exudes character – the Belmont Streets, the Back Wynds and so on. Yet getting about easily, comfortably, even safely has not emerged as a priority until relatively recently. The big Centres can no longer simply operate as ‘islands’, intolerant of each other and competing with each other, when there is a common and mutually advantageous agenda they should subscribe to. The obstacles to getting about (and designers speak of ‘legibility and permeability’ in this respect) are almost too numerous to mention. Union Street itself is potentially one of the biggest stumbling blocks. A magnificent statement and historic symbol in its own right, but folk forget that it is 60ft in the air, one of the first urban flyovers built in Britain.

When Belmont Street was rejuvenated with its new granite streetscape a great deal of care was taken in the design to make sure that the new granite was smooth, that kerbs were low and that walkability was maximised. This involved convincing many that authentic curve-profiled Aberdeen cassies might not be appropriate in an age of wheelchairs, all-ability access and even the more familiar everyday aspects of life such as high-heeled shoes or pushchairs. The successful outcome is there for all to see, to enjoy and, hopefully, take as an example of what should be getting rolled-out around the rest of the City Centre.

The Commerce Zone

Retailing, food and drink and the night-time economy will all take care of themselves if the wider economy is thriving. The longer-term key to this will be the gradual establishment in Aberdeen of what journalists like to refer to as the “central business district”.

With conservation of granite to the fore, the oil boom saw large-scale development at Altens and Kirkhill, and today at Westhill. Successful though these may seem, they have done little for the prospects of the City Centre other than maintain an underlying economic status quo. Moreover, they often signal a lower level of commitment to Aberdeen and the north-east than conventional, downtown offices. The bottom line is that they are easier to leave behind. With the price of fuel escalating and a growing dependence on public transport ,it is clear that downtown locations for business will become more important.

Union Plaza has been completed and Triple Kirks is moving forward slowly. Immediately to the north of the City Centre lies the Woollmanhill complex and the Broadford Works complex. Both have A Listed heritage at their core. These gems have to be successfully regenerated – brought into effective, productive use - as Aberdeen and the north-east move forward in an all-energy future.

Immediately to the south of the City Centre lies the Palmerston Road area. It offers significant untapped potential to establish a unique and significant energy business complex, with prestigious HQ buildings overlooking Aberdeen Harbour and the Dee. Although there’s heritage here as well – especially relating to fishing – it must not hold up the regeneration of this area. The sons and daughters of present day fishermen will need this diversification to happen - and happen swiftly. Both these key ‘commerce zones’ have significant potential to galvanise the heart of Aberdeen for the future. A decade from now, we should not be asking ourselves why did these initiatives not happen?

Writing this in January 2011, I’ll lead up to concluding challenge with a complaint. For the last month the very successful Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow has stolen much of Aberdeen’s musical birthright. Whether a festival based on a 300,000 population catchment is viable or not, who knows? Perhaps we should ask the Lemon Tree which valiantly ploughs this territory. Scottish ‘What’s On’ programmes (Scottish and UK papers) have been devoid of Aberdeen references this past month and I wonder to what degree it comes down to audiences in the north-east just not turning up. Pretty soon the performers learn that, if you want an audience, go elsewhere. Yet, in the Music Hall, we have one of the best venues in the UK for acoustic performance.

So my question is to the residents’ of Aberdeen is ‘What kind of City Centre do you want?’ Vibrant, vital and successful – or a void (no pun intended) after 6pm?

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