Aberdeen city centre traders back 'Open For Business' Union Street campaign

Owners and managers of shops, cafes, and services on Union Street Central have backed a new a campaign to reassure people the area is open for business during major improvement works.

Union Street Central - between the Market Street and Bridge Street junctions – has been closed off to traffic to allow pavements works and the creation of a new Aberdeen Market entrance to be created.

It is hoped it will make it 'more attractive and vibrant' while promoting walking and cycling as part of the City Centre and Beach Masterplan.

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Works include new pavements with Scottish whin stone, locally-sourced granite for the new street surface including cycle lanes, and will help to create a plaza pavement entrance to the market.

During the works, access will continue to all shops and businesses for pedestrians, as well as access for delivery vehicles.

Angela Smith, who owns Gift Wrap, said: "It’s important that people know the city centre and Union Street is open for business and that everybody is welcome whether you are local or a tourist."

Bob Smith, who owns Aberdeen Vinyl Records, said: "The campaign is a reminder to everybody that Union Street is well and truly open.

"Shops have and are bringing in lots of stock which is unique to the city so there are lots of reasons to come to Union Street."

Kenny Bruce, centre manager at The Trinity Centre, said: "There is a wide variety of shops, cafes and services in the Union Street Central with something for everybody and businesses are here and ready to welcome people to the area."

Colin Thomson, commercial manager at The Trinity Centre, added: "It’s important that people continue to emphasise the positivity and continue to spread the word that Union Street Central is open for business."

The works for the first few months will include trial holes dug in the road to find exact locations of utilities, removing all street furniture on the south side then the north side, removing the road surface, installing drains, gully traps, ducting, and kerbing.

Some activity taking place during the first weeks include surveying and other inspections which do not involve cutting through the road surface so there is no visual impact on the Union Street Central.

Carried out by Morrison Construction, the works will take place in parallel to the construction of the new market building, include several mitigations for shops and businesses in the area including:

• Access to all shops and businesses for pedestrians;

• Access for delivery vehicles;

• One lane east-bound will be available at all times for emergency vehicles, refuse collections, and deliveries. Existing business loading restrictions will continue no loading 8am to 9.30am, 12.30pm to 2.30pm, 4.30pm to 6pm.

• The taxi rank in Back Wynd will be for day and night taxis;

• Buses have been re-routed either via the bus priority route (Market Street, Guild Street, and Bridge Street), Union Terrace, or Schoolhill – see bus company websites for information on individual routes.

A works site compound is to be created in Union Street Central area and works will move east to west (from Market Street to Bridge Street) with information and colourful hoarding surrounding the closed-off area.

The area is being split into three sections of 100m each, moving south and north of the street, to allow for a continuous access road through the site for taxis, delivery vehicles and cyclists.

Works are due to be completed, depending on what is uncovered by utility companies, weather, and world-wide supply-chain availability of materials, in autumn 2025.

The City Council is to receive £20million from the UK Levelling Up Fund which will be used towards the development of Union Street Central and the new market building.