Nearly £1.6million is being invested in the city centre this financial year as business organisation Aberdeen Inspired outlines its budget for 2015/16.
Chief executive Gary Craig has revealed the vision for the months ahead, with the budget being used to fund initiatives designed to enhance the traditional commercial heart of the city.
Income for 2015/16 has come predominantly from the BID’s (Business Improvement District) 700 levy payers who will contribute a total of around £800,000 to city centre improvements. However this year, through a combination of voluntary contributions and funding for specific projects, the available funding will be doubled to almost £1.6m. A six figure sum from Jim Milne of the Balmoral Group is a significant proportion of this additional funding.
Expenditure for 2015/16 has been allocated in accordance with Aberdeen Inspired’s five specific themes: Attractive City £332,500, Out and About £615,000, Safe and Secure £62,000, Marketing and Promotion £381,400 and United Voice £20,000. A further £176,000 has been set aside to cover operating expenses.
At the heart of the Attractive City theme is the recently announced £250,000 refresh of the green space at the upper deck of the St Nicholas Centre. As part of the organisation’s flourishing Aberdeen Inspired civic pride campaign, the area has been earmarked as the location for its next city centre project as it aims to make a number of additions to the space in an effort to encourage more people to use it on a regular basis.
Falling under its Out and About theme, the organisation is also set to advance plans, in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, to roll out an innovative, £600,000 wayshowing scheme across the city centre that will see a total of 58 map totems installed in an effort to improve orientation, navigation and journey planning for people visiting the area.
Continued investment in tourist body VisitAberdeen (£75,000) has also been set aside. In addition, the Aberdeen Inspired creative lighting scheme will continue to be rolled out – with the high impact illumination of the Union Street colonnade, at the entrance to the Kirk of St Nicholas, set to be a focal point.
This year’s projects aim to build on the work completed by Aberdeen Inspired over the past 12-months as it looks ahead to its important renewal ballot date in March 2016.
Initiatives in 2014/15 included a successful festive programme which saw the return of an ice rink to the city centre along with a host of other activities and events. A £20,000 investment in the popular Wild Dolphins art project, a packed Easter programme which saw a roller rink and zorbing present within Union Terrace Gardens were also implemented as part of the organisation’s commitment to increasing footfall within the BID zone.
Innovative projects including the introduction of street art to key areas of the zone as well as a comprehensive floral enhancement programme were also completed whilst the organisation also led the city’s successful Purple Flag reaccreditation, with Aberdeen becoming the first city to achieve the coveted standard, which recognises a commitment to a safe and secure night time experience.
Gary Craig, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “Aberdeen Inspired has a clear aim of enhancing the BID zone for all that use it. We ultimately want to continue to work with our levy payers to ensure that they get return on their investment so a diverse range of projects and events is key.
“In many ways, this is perhaps the most important budget there ever has been for Aberdeen Inspired as we approach our renewal ballot date which is set to take place in early 2016. I truly believe that the diverse programme of projects that we are set to deliver over the next 12 months will have a positive effect on the BID zone and I look forward to these coming to fruition throughout the months ahead.
“Our plans for the St Nicholas rooftop garden have already been warmly received and the feedback on our pilot wayshowing project has also been incredibly positive. At the heart of our success has been, and in many ways will continue to be, key partnership working. A sense of togetherness is vital to a successful city and we want to continue to lead an integral part in fostering that for Aberdeen.”
Aberdeen Inspired is the banner under which the Aberdeen BID (Business Improvement District) operates. It is a business-led initiative within the city centre in which levy payers within the BID zone contribute. Proceeds are used to fund projects designed to improve the business district.
Further information on the work of Aberdeen Inspired is available at www.aberdeeninspired.com