More than 150 experts and traders to brainstorm ways to save Union Street at emergency summit

By Ben Hendry

November 3 2022, 1:44 pm

Professor Richard Laing will give the keynote address, as today the speakers at the Union Street summit have been confirmed.

Delegates from Shell, Jamieson and Carry and other major city centre businesses will brainstorm ways to save Union Street at an emergency summit.

The “vital” talks will take place at Aberdeen’s Douglas Hotel on Wednesday, November 9, with more than 150 people signing up to get involved.

The event has been arranged to come up with urgent measures to “tackle the decline” of the Granite Mile before it’s too late.

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

Ultimately, city centre improvement group Aberdeen Inspired will contribute an undisclosed sum to take the best ideas forward and “find ways of implementing them for the greater good”.

The body has today confirmed that the summit is already oversubscribed.

What will happen at the gathering?

Speakers and panellists who depend on Union Street’s success will “talk candidly” about the challenges of operating on the struggling central thoroughfare.

Attendees will “explore potential short and medium-term solutions” to improve its fortunes during panel sessions.

Who are the speakers at the Union Street summit?

Derren McRae, senior director of real estate firm CBRE, Richard Noble, managing director of FG Burnett, Dan Smith, associate director of Savills and Dean Gowans of The City Restoration Project will take part.

From left, Arron Finnie, Stuart Johnston, Dan Smith, Derren McRae and Mark McQueen banded together to campaign for pedestrianisation earlier this year. Derren will be among the Union Street summit speakers. Picture by Kath Flannery/DCT Media

Siberia’s Stuart McPhee, founding director of Amarone Mario Gizzi and Christopher Carry from Jamieson and Carry will be involved in the panel talks.

After confirming a move to the Silver Fin office complex at the top end of Union Street, Shell’s Padraig McCloskey will also speak.

The keynote speech will be given by Richard Laing, a professor of urban collaboration at Northumbria University.

Professor Richard Laing was formerly with Robert Gordon University’s Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and the Built Environment so knows plenty about Aberdeen. Picture by Kath Flannery.

What do YOU think needs to happen to improve Union Street? Let us know in our comments section below

Summit ‘can’t be another talking shop’

The summit has been organised by Aberdeen Inspired in association with Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce’s Vanguard initiative.

CEO of Aberdeen Inspired Adrian Watson pictured on Union Street. Picture by Kath Flannery/DCT Media

Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired said: “The high demand for spaces at the event underlines the concern for the state of Union Street.

“It’s important that this summit is not just another talking shop.

“Equally, we don’t want it to be hi-jacked by those who simply want to air grievances about what has, or has not, gone before.