Key facts
- One in eight properties on British High Streets are currently vacant.
- Fractured ownership and high business costs are major obstacles to high street renewal.
- Aberdeen's Union Street has seen 33 of its 198 units filled since an initiative began.
- Vacant shops and graffiti can create a cycle that deters shoppers and investment.
- Aberdeen's turnaround plan includes a new food and drink market and seafront redevelopment.
The empty Marks & Spencer building on Aberdeen's Union Street, once a bustling 'Granite Mile', exemplifies the challenges facing British high streets. The city is now undertaking an ambitious plan to revitalize its center, addressing the decline caused by online commerce and out-of-town retail. This initiative involves filling vacant units, repurposing upper floors, and creating new attractions like a food and drink market and seafront redevelopment.
Across the UK, one in eight high street properties are vacant, a persistent issue attributed to factors like fractured ownership, rising business costs, and a fundamental shift towards online shopping. Experts suggest there is still a significant surplus of retail space. Aberdeen's previous reliance on the North Sea oil boom meant it did not need to actively manage its city center's appeal, but a decline by late 2022 prompted the formation of the community-led Our Union Street coalition.
Led by former FTSE 100 CEO Bob Keiller, the coalition has audited properties, tracked down landlords, and enlisted volunteers to clean and paint empty units. They offer financial incentives, including council fit-out grants and business rate discounts, to attract new businesses. While 33 of 198 units on Union Street have been filled, another 20 have become vacant since the initiative began, though Keiller insists they are filling units faster than they are emptying.
Attention is also being given to the underutilized upper floors of buildings. High Street troubleshooter Iain Nicholson notes that many vacant units lack active marketing and that towns need to encourage a wider range of occupiers beyond traditional retail. He highlighted Aberdeen's joined-up approach and willingness to overcome differences as a model for other towns, such as Crewe, which is focusing on arts, culture, and community initiatives.