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Roads  >  Strategic Leadership (Roads)  >  Union Street Pedestrianisation - Work to Date

Union Street Pedestrianisation - Work to Date

Assessment Methodology

In line with good practice, and where the Scottish Executive has provided funding, the scheme is the subject of a Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) analysis. This analysis has been developed under the context of the Modern Transport System STAG, which has been carried out by NESTRANS and already approved by Council.

• The STAG methodology sets out a rigorous and logical process for project appraisal in which objectives to be met and problems to be resolved are established, options identified, and those options then assessed against the objectives and problems.

Proposals are also assessed against the five key nationally-approved criteria of:

• Economy
• Integration
• Environment
• Accessibility
• Safety

Two further headings are also considered, as the City Council feels that projects should also be assessed under:

• Deliverability
• Acceptability

Consultants have been appointed to carry out various studies, including traffic modelling and economic analysis. Further investigatory work is being progressed to assess the impact of proposals on the environment, including on air quality, noise and vibration.

Economic Benchmarking Conclusions

On the basis of the economic studies it was concluded that:

• The economic impact of the pedestrianisation of Union Street is likely to be positive and several hundred new jobs will be created in the retail and hospitality sectors.
• The Economic Activity Location Impact (EALI) study and a consultant's Benchmarking Report estimates the direct benefits as being 410 new fte (full time equivalent) jobs and £22m increased turnover to City Centre businesses.
• Evidence elsewhere strongly supports the notion that pedestrianisation is successful when implemented as part of a wider city realm initiative. Accordingly, the importance of the pedestrianisation within the context of the Urban Realm Strategy should be noted.
• Evidence elsewhere stresses the strategic importance of having areas of interest at each end of the pedestrianisation scheme. In the case of Aberdeen the natural axis would be the Bon Accord and the Guild Street developments.
• In terms of implementation, the importance was stressed of:
• • using high quality materials
  • the need to fully implement road engineering and public transport priority measures before introducing the pedestrian scheme.