Aberdeen city centre shops braced for change

Adam McLaughlin, director of Attic, said they were "nervous" about the changes

A significant change has begun in Aberdeen city centre as work to alter the layout of its main thoroughfare - Union Street - starts.

The central section of the road is closing to buses to allow pavements to be widened and new cycle lanes to be created.

It is hoped that work will finish in autumn 2025.

Construction of the new Aberdeen Market will run alongside the streetscaping which will also see buses diverted.

Aberdeen City Council's vision for central Union Street aims to make it more attractive to visitors

'Challenge after challenge'

Businesses will not be offered any financial support during the period of disruption because there will still be access for pedestrians and delivery services.

Adam McLaughlin, director of the clothing shop Attic, said: "We're obviously nervous about it and the effect it's going to have on our business, especially in the short term.

“I think it will be good in the long term but there's definitely a worry that it's going to be potentially a couple of years and we don't know what the future holds for the street and businesses on the street.

“We are expecting that the public won't like being on Union Street when it looks like a building site so we have spoken to suppliers so they are aware of it to hopefully control the stock that is coming in and reduce our exposure in that way."

Mr McLaughlin said he had been told by Aberdeen City Council that it would be "business as normal" on Union Street.

He said that was "good to hear" but they would "wait and see" what the reality was like after "challenge after challenge" in recent years.

Bob Smith said he hoped the work would have "minimal impact"

Bob Smith, who runs Aberdeen Vinyl Records, said: "The first thing we have to try and counter is the impression that Union Street is closing.

“Union Street is open for business, but without buses coming in.

“Once people know that it's open and not closed then it should have a minimal impact on us."

He said he would have liked to seen the work start sooner.

“Remaining as it was wasn't an option, there has to be pain to get the gain," he said.

“It's something that should have been done years ago in my opinion.

“When the oil was booming there was a tremendous opportunity to do all of this, but now we're here and I think Aberdeen should look like a modern European capital."

The council has said the upgrade work will help boost Union Street by making it more attractive.

It said it would help to create a "vibrant and exciting city centre".