November
What do you think of Aberdeen City Centre?
Bob Collier, Chief Executive, AGCC
Aberdeen city centre needs a plan. The city council is working on a ‘framework’ as part of the local development plan which will identify specific ‘quarters,’ and we could have done with this several years ago to guide development. There has been too much piecemeal development in the last 10 years.
For me the priorities are: protecting the unique granite ‘feel’ of the city; tidying up Union Street and other tired areas of the city; finding new uses for redundant buildings and areas; being ambitious with the opportunity in Union Terrace Gardens; and, above all, releasing the natural pride of Aberdonians in their city behind some positive plans.
All these would have a positive effect on commerce.
 John Michie, Chairman of Aberdeen City Centre Association
I have heard from senior people at both universities and from major players in the oil industry that they will not take visitors, especially those involved in senior staff recruitment, into OUR city centre.
This is a fearfully important subject and I am absolutely sympathetic with people who say they don’t come into the city centre any more. The problem about Aberdeen has been incremental planning and incremental issues. No one thinks through what the unintended consequences might be – it is the bigger picture we need to look at and the bigger picture includes the Denburn Valley development, Trump, the Western Peripheral, further investment into the AECC and a well supported Direct Marketing Organisation and addressing issues about whether or not we present a comfortable and friendly face to visitors and investors to this city.
 Linda Stewart, General Manager, The Mall
I am Welsh and I take family up here and they are gobsmacked by it. I think the architecture is superb, there is a unique harbour and a fantastic beach. Footdee is out of this world, I love going there.
We have lots of shops to let in Union Street but I think that is due to the economic climate and I don’t think we are any worse than anywhere else.
I love Union Terrace Gardens and while I like them as they are I think turning them into a city square is a pretty good idea.
I like the Castlegate and the Green which are full of heritage and there is a good mix of modern pubs and restaurants. There is the fantastic art gallery and Provost Skene’s house and it is just a shame that the Marischal Museum has now closed. There are good shops with new stores coming into the city all the time to the centres and we now have plenty of hotels. I am a bit surprised by the criticism because I like it.
 Jonathan Day Managing Director Soprano Hotels
Harbour and train stations were historically the down at heel part of city centres across the world. However, this is no longer the case in Aberdeen.
Currently there is much talk of the need to regenerate the city centre but in fact I am not sure everyone realises the true significance of the work only recently completed by the THI (Townscape Heritage Initiative) in the city’s newly named Merchant Quarter.
The project has seen a major refurbishment of the city centre’s streetscape and historical buildings. More importantly the project has succeeded in connecting the city’s main shopping centres and facilitating an explosion in private sector investment. This work will enhance the image, enjoyment and landscape of the city centre for years to come.
Yes it has shifted the city centre shopping map but it has laid the but it has laid the foundations for a new city centre that I am extremely positive about and which I think we can all be proud of.
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