Decision details

The Council resolved:-

to welcome this Council’s continued commitment to City Centre regeneration and:

1.      Welcomes the latest independent data from HUQ Signals showing that footfall in Aberdeen City Centre grew by 3.6% in 2024, in comparison to 2023, and Aberdeen continues to outperform the Scottish and UK national averages.

2.      Notes the ongoing city centre regeneration projects underway at Union Street Central and the Aberdeen Market site funded by Aberdeen City Council and the UK Government.

3.      Welcomes that more than 6,000 people enjoyed the Council’s commissioned festive night buses which provided free travel across 10 routes, every Friday and Saturday night between 16^th  November 2024 and 5^th January 2025, as well as the 2024 Hogmanay service that carried the most people on any single day of operation with 841 passengers, all funded through Bus Lane Enforcement surplus monies to help people to get home safely for free over the festive period.

4.      Welcomes the continuing success of the Union Street Empty Shops Action Plan which has helped lower the number of vacant ground floor properties on Union Street and, bolstered by the additional capital funding approved at the March 2024 Council Budget meeting, encouraged additional economic benefit for the city centre.

5.      Welcomes the work of the Council’s cleansing team in keeping our city centre tidy, and welcomes the recent grant received from Keep Britain Tidy’s Chewing Gum Task force which contributed towards additional cleaning and signage.

6.      Welcomes the Union Street Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) which has seen investment in the improvement and maintenance of historic buildings on Union Street; the Council’s successful application to the first phase of the Heritage and Place Programme being run by Historic Environment Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund; and the Council’s additional capital investment through the Aberdeen City Heritage Trust for Building Repair Grants around Union Street West.

7.      Recognises the excellent partnership working between the Council and Aberdeen Inspired, Our Union Street, Port of Aberdeen, and others, in bringing to the city Spectra, Festival of the Sea, Nuart, Iconic Bricks Dinosaur Trail,  International Exhibitions at the Art Gallery (such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year and currently Artist Textiles: Picasso to Warhol), and Christmas in the City, including Christmas Parade, Aberdeen Christmas Village, Curated in the Quad Christmas Market, and festive lighting in Union Terrace Gardens.

8.      Welcomes the excellent events coming in 2025 - Spectra, Highland Games, the Festival of the Sea and The Tall Ships Races, as well as on-going support to Aberdeen Performing Arts, P&J Live and Visit Aberdeenshire in attracting international events, conferences and visitors to the City.