Latest news with #RichardTinto
Press and Journal
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Press and Journal
Mini golf, laser arena and 25-lane bowling alley planned for John Lewis as bosses hit out at critics
The owners of Aberdeen's closed John Lewis have revealed more details on how they plan to breathe new life into the forlorn city centre building. Earlier this year, EP Properties submitted proposals to turn the huge George Street site into a new go-karting, arcade and bowling destination. It came after months of uncertainty and speculation over the future of the building that had homed the department store for 30 years before its closure in 2021. The news sparked fresh hopes for the abandoned Norco House, with Aberdeen business leaders hailing it as a 'catalyst to reviving a forgotten area of the city'. Not all were in favour of the ambitious project, however, with neighbours raising a number of concerns over how the venue would 'impact their quality of life'. Meanwhile, rival go-kart firms hit out at the proposals too. But Norco House owners have now hit back at the complaints, while also detailing what exactly would be featured in the new go-karting mecca. Fresh planning documents reveal the ground floor of the building will be turned into a bowling alley with 25 lanes, with designated arcade and 'party' areas. There would also be four pool tables and a lounge area, where food and drinks would be served. How the first floor would be used is still to be confirmed, with EP Properties saying they are currently in talks with potential tenants willing to rent it out as a restaurant. The go-kart tracks will stretch across the second and third floor, essentially linking the two areas into one big centre for racing fans with ramps offering some added excitement. In addition, there would be a mini golf area, a karting workshop and changing rooms on the second floor. And the latest documents reveal a laser arena is planned on the third floor – perhaps bringing back memories of the old Quasertag at George Street's Mega Bowl. Planning documents say creating such a facility on George Street will help with council plans to turn the neighbourhood into a 'major regional centre'. They add: 'An active leisure use, which will be open during the day and into the evening, will ensure greater pedestrian footfall, adding to the vibrancy and animation of George Street.' While some have been in favour of the redevelopment of the huge vacant building, nearby residents have raised concerns over how this would impact their homes. Richard Tinto of Tinto Architecture, who is leading several revamp projects in the city centre, previously said this could be the spark that 'brings George Street back to life'. But other go-kart operators argued Aberdeen doesn't need more indoor racing tracks. They fear the existing two venues at Bridge of Don and Codona's could loose out on trade if the John Lewis proposals are approved. EP Properties officials have now hit out at these complaints, saying that 'competition between businesses is not a material planning consideration'. They add: 'The operators of the various elements have carried out their own research to understand the market and have determined there is scope for the leisure facilities being proposed.' Neighbours also objected to the plans, with 50 pleading to the council for them to be scrapped while seven people sent in letters of support. The main concerns raised were over a potential influx of boozed-up punters causing havoc after visiting the leisure centre, as well as traffic congestion. Some also worry that having a fleet of go-karts zooming up and down the tracks on their doorstep would be too noisy and disrupt their evenings. But owners explain that there will be 'limited impact' on residential properties in the area as their proposals are similar to how the building was used before. And as they would use electric go-karts, these would be quieter. They reckon there will be little change as the entrance to the venue will remain the same, immediately across from the Bon Accord Centre and away from homes. A recent noise assessment has also concluded that 'the internal noise levels will have no detriment to either the existing commercial or residential premises'. And when it comes to traffic concerns, bosses believe there would actually be less disruption as there wouldn't be as many deliveries and no customer collection point. Meanwhile, they say claims that the venue will contribute to an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area 'have not been justified'. Papers add: 'There is no evidence to suggest that a proposed leisure development will encourage anti-social behaviour. 'Any public house elements of the proposals will require the appropriate licences which will include conditions to ensure the appropriate behaviour of users.'
Press and Journal
04-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Inside Aberdeen's derelict upper floors as taskforce plots ways to breathe new life into Granite Mile buildings
Iain Nicholas casts an eye around the grotty upper floor of 463 Union Street, which was once home to one of many closed bank branches. Retail expert Iain is now heading up a panel working hard to identify new uses for these rows of empty spaces lining both sides of the Granite Mille. They hope that their work will ultimately rejuvenate the struggling street. And that's why I find myself standing in the forlorn space, next to the Capitol office complex. This is exactly the sort of decaying space this specialist taskforce is determined to turn around. Joining Iain on the high street crusade are designer Richard Tinto, Ross Grant and Adrian Watson from Aberdeen Inspired, chartered surveyor Shona Boyd and Aberdeen City Council officials. Entering the former bank at the top of Union Street, the first thing I clock is the stark barebone appearance of the unit. The ground floor has been fully stripped back, with the wooden frames on show and even some holes in the floor exposing the grimy basement below. Ross begins to tell me about the group's progress so far as we have a look around each nook and cranny. This is the fourth derelict unit the group has visited that day, with their exploratory journey taking them along the whole stretch of the Granite Mile. But despite it looking like quite the challenge to my untrained eye, the local councillor is feeling positive about today's boots on the ground operation. Ross tells me: 'The key takeaway from today for me is that each of the upper floor spaces has their own specific opportunities and barriers. 'I think the panel discussions so far has been really refreshing, really positive.' And before we head upstairs to the former offices of the bank – I begin chatting to one of the big guns Aberdeen Inspired have enlisted. The city centre Bid (Business Improvement District) received £15,000 of government funding in 2024 to find the key to bringing the Granite Mile's upper floors back to life. Using this cash, they've drafted in Iain – who is the founder of the Vacant Shops Academy. He is a former BBC radio reporter, who has been working on boosting town and city centres since 2013. Amids the exposed steel beams and knocked down walls, he enthuses about the project. The 66-year-old explains: 'We're starting off by thinking about what could go in these in these spaces? What are the barriers to that happening? How can those barriers be overcome? 'We want to get away from this situation where agents and landlords are left with really challenging buildings where maybe the finances don't stack up in terms of commercially sorting it out. 'We want to look at the opportunities and the ways Union Street and Aberdeen can help with tackling some of those places.' As the panel inspect the bare interior of the upper floors and begin to gather their thoughts on the building, I grab a word with one of the biggest names in Aberdeen's architecture game. Richard Tinto, of Tinto Architecture, is another who has been showing his passion throughout the afternoon for turning around Union Street's upper floors. His firm are currently overseeing the revamp of the former John Lewis into a go-karting mecca, along with the much-anticipated return of the Belmont Cinema. The Aberdeen-based designer also has previous experience in bringing Union Street's upper floors back to life. Plans drawn up by Richard are currently in place to turn the empty space above the Tag Heuer showroom into fancy apartments. And for him, the group's main goal shares similarities with one of the Beatles' many hits. As we huddle around in what is a quite tight office, he tells me: 'If someone has a desire to move into Union Street, one of the great wins for the group would be to make that as easy as possible for them. 'Right now it's a little bit siloed and disjointed, and it needs a few different moving parts to come together. 'If we can be that 'come together' then that's it.' This is the first step of a lengthy process for the team of experts, with it likely being years before units like this one are fully given a new lease of life. For now, the group's goals are to get their ideas together on what the units could be used for, and then writing up a report. This would then be sent back to the building's owners – offering advice and solutions on how to overcome the current hurdles which have discouraged any revival efforts yet. And the panel's crusade doesn't stop there. They tell me they're planning on pushing Holyrood to change some of the more frustrating planning policies that have stopped developers and dreamers alike in the past. But whilst the group's work has only just begun, the Granite Mile already has a vast array of plans in the pipeline for reviving some of its upper floors. A new golf mecca is on the cards, being opened by Golf Academy Scotland. The firm are keeping tight lipped on their plans for now, but say it will include a top of the range simulator, lessons, and its own pro shop. The Edinburgh-based Optimal Student firm are also in the mix for reviving the Granite Mile's upper floors – with £2.7 million plans to revamp the floors above The former offices at Braemar house will become 25 student flats, with plans to join the two complexes together. So with our visit over we descend back down the pitch black staircases, with our phone torches guiding the way. Shaking hands with the group and saying goodbye, it's clear that the panel of experts will stop at nothing until Union Street's upper floors are brought back to life. The different members making up the crack team all come from different backgrounds within the same industry – making it the perfect melting pot of ideas and perspectives. So whilst there's a long way to go, as the condition of 463 Union Street proved, the only way seems up for the Granite Mile.
