Will works kick off a bright future, or ‘crucify’ business?

Some business owners are hopeful of a bright new future under a major Union Street revamp – but others fear months of disruption could “crucify” trade.

The Market Street to Bridge Street section will be closed until the end of next year as work to transform the Granite Mile gets under way.

A range of upgrades will be carried out as part of the £20 million facelift – including widening pavements and creating a segregated bike lane.

Construction work to turn the former BHS department store into a new £40m food and drink market will also begin.

City leaders hailed the move as the “biggest redevelopment in Aberdeen city centre for 200 years”.

Council chiefs stressed pedestrian access will be maintained in business hours.

But Lynne McIntyre fears the roadworks might put off potential customers.

The 58-year-old runs the clothes and sweets store Dizzy’s, at the start of the section to be dug up.

Lynne said: “It will be good once it’s all done up – but what will happen to the businesses here in the meantime.

“The closure will crucify trade in the city centre, and I think all of us will struggle.

“I try to be positive about it but the bottom part of Union Street – where I am – is the least attractive place right now, and this would make it even worse.”

The trader admits that running an independent business on Union Street has proved a challenge.

Lynne thinks the bus gate outside her store is one of the reasons behind the dwindling number of customers.

Dizzy’s and Attic are the only independent businesses on the part of Union Street that will be dug up first.

With more than 15 years of retail experience, Lynne opened Dizzy’s last April.

But the lack of customers has left her debating whether she should stick with the location.

The introduction of the bus gates is one of the reasons behind the dwindling number of customers, she reckons.

And she fears the imminent roadworks could be the final straw.

Lynne added: “I don’t understand why they’ve done it all together – the emission zones, the bus gates, now closing the road.

“These are three big factors – all introduced within a year – that have been making it more and more difficult for me.

“It’s prom season so things are going well right now but I don’t need to be in the high street for that

– I can sell dresses all the same elsewhere.”

However, neighbours Attic have a more positive take. The prospect of a bright future is one of the reasons Adam, Richard and Craig McLaughlin relocated their clothes shop to the city centre in 2022.

Adam said: “There is that fear of how the roadworks would impact footfall.

“It will be quite unsightly while the work is done, and that might put people off Union Street or coming to Aberdeen altogether.”

Adam added: “But it’s a really good thing in the long term – it will tidy up the city centre and make it more desirable for both businesses and customers.

“Hopefully, that would encourage more businesses to open up on the high street, which could bring more shoppers out.”

Adam McLaughlin, co-owner of Attic, and store manager Kyle McDonald.

Lynne McIntyre opened her shop in Union Street last year but has been unhappy at the lack of footfall.