In the first half of 2025, Aberdeen accounted 14 of 59 transactions, or 24% of all deals, in Scotland. This was well above the Granite City’s 13% average for 2020 to 2024, with only Glasgow ranking higher in the first six months of 2025.
During that same period, Aberdeen accounted for 14% of the value of investment in Scottish commercial property – £102 million of the £750m transacted. This was above the city’s 9% average for the previous five years, buoyed by sales including St Magnus House and the Aberdeen bases of energy companies CNOOC, Apache, and Taqa.
“Aberdeen is going through a transitional period as a city,” said Alasdair Steele, head of commercial property at Knight Frank.
“Inevitably when that happens there is greater turnover of property ownership, with some current owners seeking new opportunities while new entrants to the market see long-term opportunity. That helps to bring buyer and seller expectations closer together, whereas in other markets they are further apart given the uncertain macro backdrop.”
He added: “With quality stock on the market, we expect Aberdeen to continue to be active in the remainder of 2025 and into 2026.”
2025’s performance builds on momentum from the previous year when it accounted for 42 of Scotland’s 232 deals. That 18% market share was it largest since 2020.
During 2024 Aberdeen also accounted for 20% of investment volumes, with £503m of the £2.49 billion invested in Scotland. That was the city’s highest share by a considerable distance in any year since 2020, boosted by the sale of Union Square shopping centre for more than £111m.
Boutique bowling group acquires famous Arches nightclub site
The owners of three late-night bowling and family gaming sites in Scotland have acquired one of Glasgow’s most high-profile event spaces.
Platform, the event space formerly known as The Arches which sits in the railway arches underneath Glasgow Central, has been acquired by The Lane7 Group.
Headquartered in the North East of England, The Lane7 Group boasts 20 different Lane7 boutique bowling and competitive socialising sites across the UK and Europe, including long-standing venues in Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
The group also owns two LevelX sites, including one in Glasgow’s St Enoch Centre, that cater for futuristic ‘next gen’ gaming attractions and three family-oriented Gutterball gaming sites in England.
Housebuilding giant sounds alarm about Budget as sales plunge
Housebuilding giant Barratt Redrow has highlighted the risks weighing on the market after seeing sales plunge.
The group sold 16,565 homes in the latest year compared with 17,972 in the preceding period as it highlighted the impact of subdued consumer confidence on buyer demand.
“As we move into FY26, affordability, uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment and weak consumer confidence remain challenges,” said chair Caroline Silver.
“While we have seen some welcome reductions in mortgage rates over the course of the year, the cost off living remains high and affordability remains a key constraint, particularly for first-time buyers.”