THE head of Aberdeen’s business improvement district has hailed the news that Barclays has taken space in a flagship office development, saying the move is “absolutely in keeping with where we want to be with the Aberdeen city centre business plan”.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said that a major plank of the plan to regenerate the city centre is to encourage businesses back onto Union Street, which has suffered from the downturn in the retail sector.
Barclays, which is currently based in Union Plaza, has signed a 10-year lease on just over 3,000 square feet of space in the recently completed Silver Fin Building at the top of Union Street.
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“It’s a positive statement,” Mr Watson said. “It’s been our strategic aim to entice businesses back onto the main thoroughfare.
“They are one of a few and we’re building momentum.”
Oil and gas businesses CATS Management and Addax Petroleum, accountants Grant Thornton and Accenture, and virtual office firm Orega have already taken space in the Silver Fin.
The same thing is happening at the opposite end of Union Street, where Aberdeen Journals and Royal Bank of Scotland are in the process of moving into the newly constructed Marischal Square development opposite Marischal College.
Aberdeen Journals, which publishes the Press & Journal newspaper, is moving from its current premises on the Lang Stracht while RBS is making the move from the west end of the city.
The idea behind the plan is to replace the footfall lost when shops have closed down with office workers, who will boost the economy in city centre by using shops and cafes on their way to and from work.
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The Silver Fin building, which is owned by the British Airways Pension Trustees, was developed by London-headquartered commercial real estate business Titan Investors.
Titan director Sean Mackenzie said: “The Silver Fin Building is a high-quality office development well located in Aberdeen’s city centre in close proximity to a wide range of amenities, and will be an attractive working location for Barclays’ staff.”
Stuart Brown of Barclays said the bank would provide relationship banking for agriculture, SME, corporate and wealth management, and private banking clients from its new premises.
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