Aberdeen Inspired has won a prestigious UK award for leading a groundbreaking project to breathe new life into the upper floors of Union Street.
The city’s Business Improvement District picked up the title of Best Business Support Scheme 2025 from the Association of Town & City Management UK and Ireland for the Upper Floors Project.
The visionary scheme is being driven by Aberdeen Inspired with support from Aberdeen City Council (ACC) and the wider city centre business community and stakeholders.
It has seen an expert task force assembled to help bring the upper floors of Union Street back to vibrant life and create a “living and liveable neighbourhood community” in the heart of the Granite City.
The team brings together council specialists in planning and building standards with architects, developers and commercial letting agents to find new and innovative uses for unused or unused premises above the ground floor level of the Granite Mile.
Image - Aberdeen Inspired
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said he was thrilled the BID had won the coveted award earlier this week at the annual conference of the Association of Town & City Management held in Bradford, UK City of Culture 2025.
Adrian said: “The approach Aberdeen is taking to regenerate upper floor space in the heart of the city is truly revolutionary, bringing together experts and stakeholders to find new and innovative ways to bring unused and underused spaces back to life.
“This is very much a collaborative approach with everyone involved all pulling in the same direction to regenerate and re-energise our city centre. It is one which has attracted keen interest at a national level across the UK and Ireland.
“Certainly, during this conference attended by some of the country’s most influential placemakers and experts, all eyes have been on what we are doing in Aberdeen.
“No one is under any illusion just how tough the challenge is, not just here but in almost every city and town centre. There is still much to do, but we are determined to work hard, work together and together help the heart of Aberdeen become a vibrant, living community where people want to live work and play.
“And if we help blaze a trail for others to follow, then so much the better.”
Ross Grant, of Aberdeen Inspired, in conversation with Sepideh Hajisoltani, Aberdeen City Council planner (conservation) at the launch of the Upper Floors Project technical panel. Image - Aberdeen Inspired
The Upper Floors Project technical panel – which also includes representatives from Aberdeen Inspired and Our Union Street - has already started a “boots on the ground” exploration of used and underused spaces in the city centre and more are planned over the summer.
The team is being led by town and city centres specialist Iain Nicholson, founder of The Vacant Shops Academy.
He said: “What Aberdeen has achieved in terms of tackling vacancy on Union Street already makes it a national beacon.
“Following this with a study around the waste that is un- and under-used upper floors is an important next step which has the double potential to further add to the vibrancy of Union Street and the wider city but also again to deliver learning for other places.
“Everyone involved here has consistently said this is work in progress but it’s great to see the ATCM award as early recognition of the contribution Aberdeen is making to thought leadership on these crucial town and city centre challenges.”
Once the panel has concluded its visits to the upper floor spaces in the coming months, before deciding how best to communicate their findings to owners and stakeholders.