By: Amelia Boag McGlynn & Kirsten Koss
A new shop is set to open at Hillhead after 18 months of disruption as a result of the RAAC concrete crisis.
University officials have signed an agreement with Greens, a Scottish, family-owned chain of convenience stores and post offices, to bring a shop to students staying at the village.
The shop coming under local hands marks a shift from the previous contract holders – the Co-op – with the brand already promising to open a Facebook page to keep students updated about the store, including information about its opening.
An opening date is yet to be set, but sources at Hillhead tell The Gaudie it could be as early as May.
Back in May 2023, several buildings across the university estate were shuttered with immediate effect after inspectors discovered Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete. Aberdeen was one of nine universities forced to close parts of its estate.
The closure of the Co-op in 2023 meant the nearest shop for Hillhead residents was the Bridge of Don branch of Lidl – which while only a ten-minute walk away, the steep incline on the way back from the shop makes for a difficult journey for some, leaving many students relying on supermarket delivery services, often incurring additional costs.
The University successfully received planning permission to erect a temporary pop-up shop in September 2023, yet contract negotiations have left students living at Hillhead without a shop in the village since the closures almost two years ago.
Indeed the 23/24 cohort of residents went their entire tenancy without a convenience store, despite advertisement material continuing to promise that the village would be home to a shop, even after RAAC forced its closure.
RAAC, once used as a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, led to widespread closures across the UK. The collapse of a ceiling in a primary school in Kent in 2018 led to the UK Government declaring the material ‘life extinct’. This is despite warnings that the concrete was structurally unsafe dating back as early as the 1990s, with reports noting that RAAC puts structures at risk for ‘sudden shear failure’.
At Hillhead, its discovery forced the part-closure of the Hillhead Headspace building and saw the Student Village’s Co-operative shut down, alongside ‘The Works’ café and bar.
A spokesperson for the University of Aberdeen celebrated the new agreement:
“Staff and students will have access to a new modern convenience and grocery store at Hillhead Student Village Campus thanks to a new partnership with Greens Retail which has been agreed with Estates and Services – Commercial Services.
“Development work is already underway and further, firmer details of what the community can expect will follow as soon as possible.”
Alex Copeland, Operations Director at Greens Retail said:
“Greens Retail is excited to announce our upcoming convenience store in Hillhead, Aberdeen. As a Scottish family-owned business, we look forward to bringing students and residents a wide range of fresh produce, grocery essentials, snacks, and meal solutions – all with a strong focus on quality and affordability.
Copeland added that he wants the new shop to be community-driven:
“We are committed to supporting local suppliers and offering a convenient shopping experience tailored to the needs of the Hillhead community. With our emphasis on customer service and community engagement, we can’t wait to become a go-to destination for students and locals alike.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone to the new store soon!”
Appetite for the new shop is high, with Sally, a first-year student who lives in Hillhead sharing she believes it’s “a real positive that a new shop will be coming.”
Sally noted that the shop would be a well-suited addition to the village:
“I am nervous that the prices will be super expensive. I think right now, Lidl is a good option and I’m glad the food there is very affordable, however the walk back up with heavy shopping is tiring, especially if you are ill or have an injury.
“Overall, I’m excited for the new shop, and I do think that it will improve Hillhead and hopefully make life a bit easier!”
Another first-year resident of the village shared Sally’s frustrations with travelling back from the local Lidl:
“I’m very excited to see what kind of shop it will be and avoid the hill on the way back from Lidl.
“It’s about damn time. I have become tired of not having regular accommodation amenities in our student village that so many other universities have.”
