Working for the west end

Opportunity: Commercial premises provide potential for development

If you regularly pass through the west end of Aberdeen, you will have noticed an abundance of commercial properties on the market.

A significant number of companies have taken advantage of market conditions to move to modern office accommodation in other parts of Aberdeen which better suits their needs.

Scores of west end occupiers have used the imbalance of the city’s supply over demand to seize the opportunity to relocate, leaving behind a growing number of vacant premises.

For many west end properties, the letting challenge is their internal layout which can present barriers in creating the collaborative spaces or coworking areas employers are looking for.

Last year’s completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route has also impacted the market by improving connectivity and reducing driving times, making outlying office developments more viable.

While these trends threaten to further marginalise the west end market, they also create new opportunities.

The redevelopment of older buildings that are no longer fit for purpose is happening, but there are difficulties in pursuing this course of action as many of these properties are listed and located in conservation areas.

Fortunately, Aberdeen City Council has recognised many of these issues within its local planning policy document Developing Along Lanes. As the name suggests, this plan sets out parameters for development along established lanes within the city centre, as well as parts of Albyn Place and the Rubislaw conservation area.

If accepted, it has the potential to allow a broader range of property types in the west end.

It is essential that we strike a balance between maintaining the city’s cultural heritage and allowing sustainable and viable alternative redevelopment, in order to make sure the west end remains prosperous and vibrant. This can only be fostered through close working relationships between developers, planners, building control and conservation officers.

Working collaboratively will help find a positive way forward for Aberdeen’s west end and help reduce the level of vacant commercial property premises.

WESTERN PROMISE: A council initiative could breathe new impetus into the west end of Aberdeen, where many commercial properties have gone on the market