A “dilapidated” shopfront on Aberdeen’s Union Street could finally be spruced up seven years after the council first took action against its owner.
The 25 Union Street baby clothes store, at the bottom of the Granite Mile between the Visit Scotland base and a phone repair shop, has been deemed an eyesore.
In 2016, Aberdeen City Council served the owners with an “amenity notice” forcing them to do up the “decaying” frontage.
It’s in the Union Street Conservation Area, where certain standards are expected.
And officials blasted the “dilapidated state of the shopfront”, which “detracts from the area”.
Row over dilapidated Union Street shop went to government
That was contested, with the affronted business appealing the order with the Scottish Government.
Then-owners Philip and Elinor Anderson acknowledged the signage was “clearly in need of repair” but argued it didn’t affect its surroundings.
Holyrood officers were unconvinced, and dismissed them in 2020.
Plans to enhance its appearance were lodged shortly thereafter, and approved that March.
But the pandemic put a halt to the work and the three-year window for it to be carried out has expired.
Now the plans to do it up have been relaunched, with council bosses no doubt keeping their fingers crossed they finally come off.
What’s the actual name of the shop?
Though the shop sells baby clothes and cards, it is adorned with what’s known as a “ghost sign” – relating to its past use as a cafe.
It has been like this for about 10 years.
It has been known as Inspirations previously but it’s registered as Redline Discount World, and new signage proposed will reflect this.
Papers filed by new owner Imtiyaz Ansar, from Edinburgh, indicate he will seek a small business grant to pay for the work.
Do you have any memories of Joe’s cafe on Union Street? Let us know in our comments section below
It comes as efforts are being launched to do up several properties at the east end of Union Street.
As a result of Historic Environment Scotland funding, £86,000 will go towards transforming the area.
You can see the plans here.
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