Aberdeen Inspired, the city’s Business Improvement District, is among the founding members of a new nationwide group aimed at tackling the most pressing issues facing UK high streets to help them flourish and thrive.
High Streets UK is a pro-growth, nationwide partnership of representatives from flagship high streets across the country with the Granite City joining representatives of the likes of Oxford Street in London and Princess Street in Edinburgh.
The new group is a forum to find innovative solutions to the challenges such high streets face – with Business Improvement Districts from Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle also signed up.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said he was delighted Aberdeen was among the founding members of High Streets UK and hoped it would give those involved a stronger national voice and some real political clout.
“Union Street and Aberdeen city centre has so much to offer those who live, work and visit the Granite City, but like every other UK high street is not without its challenges as well as its opportunities,” he said.
Adrian Watson, chief executive
“Being part of High Streets UK will give Aberdeen a voice in what will be an influential forum to find solutions, share experience and knowledge and help unlock fresh growth on flagship high streets, including our own Union Street.”
Collectively, the high streets involved represent over 5,000 businesses, contribute £34.7billion to local economies each year, and welcome over 473 million visitors annually. They are key divers of growth and important economic anchors for local communities.
The UK Government has identified high streets as a vehicle to drive national and local growth – and High Streets UK believes targeted policy change can help flagship high streets rise to the occasion.
The group will meet quarterly to discuss issues from the rise of retail crime to anti-social behaviour, unwieldy business rates systems and rigid planning laws.
Adrian said: “This will be a positive forum for change and progress, where representatives from high streets across the country can make their voices heard where they need to be and encourage the positive change that has to happen so the hearts of our cities can flourish.”