From the zipline to the ridiculous… New Union Street campaign receives staggering 4,200 ideas on improving Aberdeen

Our Union Street has welcomed a vast variety of suggestions on how to transform the Granite Mile.

By Ben Hendry

April 11 2023, 6:17 pm

A zip-line down Union Street is just one of many ideas being suggested to boost the Granite Mile. Image: DC Thomson

A running track spanning the length of the Granite Mile and a zipline taking people soaring over the famous thoroughfare feature in a jaw-dropping list of 4,200 suggestions on improving Union Street.

The ideas have been submitted in the three weeks since the Our Union Street campaign was launched.

The new crusade seeks to harness people power as a means of driving forward much-needed improvements to reverse the decline of Aberdeen’s main street.

The announcement of the campaign made front page news. Image: DC Thomson

When it was announced in March the message was clear: the initiative wanted to put locals at the forefront.

And Aberdonians haven’t held back – flooding the Our Union Street website with thousands of ideas.

Here, we showcase some of the most interesting…

Our Union Street ideas unveiled

The first question respondents were asked was simply “what specifically would you do to improve Union Street?”

The ideas included:

Fewer empty shops (and “get rid of all the betting/vape shops”), more local independent businesses, permanent pedestrianisation.
To have some meeting or focal points that are covered. “Nothing big or expensive, but a partial area covered from the elements”.
Create a small play area for the kids, and a small stage area for up and coming musicians.
Create a mile long running track, install a zip slide to run both ways.

Union Street as viewed from above. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Use the unused buildings as graffiti zones.
Unify the empty shops – make their signage similar.
Put a clear plastic roof over the street.
More events like Spectra. More things for families to be together in city centre.

Years ago, designers suggested a glass canopy over the top of the street…

Aberdeen still pines for John Lewis…

The next question was: “What retailers do you think we should approach to ask about coming to Aberdeen?”

And many still long for the return of John Lewis – more than two years on from the closure of its Aberdeen department store.

Several put it at the top of their wish list.

One simply said: “John Lewis needs to come back – it was the only decent place to shop in Aberdeen.”

Another added: “Try to get John Lewis back. They could open in the former Debenhams store, a better location in the heart of the city.”

John Lewis vacated Norco House in the summer of 2021. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Others wanted brands like a Lego shop, Nike store or even Selfridges.

Many expressed hopes for more independent retailers to dot the Granite Mile.

But some wanted to move away from retail, saying it would be more important to lure firms like Shell to premises on the Granite Mile.

One respondent suggested that a Bubba Gump Shrimp Company branch would be appropriate given Aberdeen’s fishing heritage.

Sometimes you just need some fried shrimp in your life! 😋

📷: kikich1972 pic.twitter.com/A6UiAsH104

— BubbaGumpCo (@BubbaGumpCo) March 19, 2023

Any ideas on how Our Union Street can tackle empty units?

The next question was: “What else could we do with empty retail units on Union Street?”

The growing number of empty units on Union Street has been a concern for some time. Image: Paul Glendell/DC Thomson

The list included:

A cooking school, or farmers market to promote Aberdeenshire’s natural larder.
Small cafes like those found nearby in Rosemount.
Use them for art until they are occupied.
Offices selling tickets to shows, the Art Gallery or even football games.
“Mini versions of Aberdeen market”, where two or three retailers/craft makers come together to create permanent spaces within a unit.
Pop up galleries in partnership with the universities.
“Lets get the fabulous local historical exhibits out of The Treasure Hub in Northfield – the history of Aberdeen – and get these out on display.”

Could the Treasure HUb’s gems be unearthed and showcased on Union Street?

Will army of volunteers come forward?

One radical idea proposed when Our Union Street was formed was amassing an army of volunteers to take on tasks like scrubbing clean old granite buildings.

The campaign asked locals if they would be ready to sign up.

A total of 738 people, more than 70%, said they would lend a hand.

Meanwhile, 303 people said no thanks.

The Our Union Street campaign could soon be seeking some hands-on help. Image: Ben Hendry/DC Thomson

Ideas being sorted ahead of public meeting

Our Union Street chairman Bob Keiller hailed the “remarkable” response.

He added: “We want Our Union Street to be different to anything which has come before it; a community-led effort to restore civic pride in our most famous street.”