Dormant John Lewis go-kart plans ‘frankly won’t work,’ says Aberdeen’s retail tsar.

Jonathan De Mello has devised a plan to restore Aberdeen city center trade to pre-pandemic levels, and he believes the John Lewis idea will fail… if it ever opens.

A leading retail expert hired to revitalise Aberdeen’s city centre argues plans to convert the former John Lewis building into a go-kart track ‘frankly won’t work’.

Last week, Jonathan De Mello unveiled his much-anticipated Aberdeen retail regeneration action plan, pledging to boost commerce back to “almost pre-Covid levels”.

He was hired by Aberdeen Inspired after leading similar projects on high streets in Nottingham, Sheffield, and Swansea.

And the 49-year-old delivered a frank assessment of Norco House’s objectives, which had been home to John Lewis for over 30 years.

Plans for the brutalist trapezium-shaped block, approved in June, include mini golf, a restaurant, and laser tag in addition to the karting circuit.

However, as the initiative appears to have stagnated, everyone involved has kept quiet.

What is happening with John Lewis plans?

Eight months after the planning approval, there is little sign of movement.

A fortnight ago, Councillor Martin Greig told The P&J that the local government “does not know when or if” the leisure complex will open.

If work is not started by June 2028, this approval will lapse, forcing developers to return to planning chiefs to request an extension.

One insider connected to the project told The Press and Journal that everything were “on track” toward the end of last year, but verified that it had “quietened down on the developers’ end.””.

What does De Mello think about the plans?

Mr De Mello told The P&J exclusively following his presentation at the Douglas Hotel last week that he “didn’t think the plans are going to work, frankly”.

The high street guru went on to say, “A go-karting track in the heart of the city does not always work.

“I’ve seen several leisure establishments in the UK that provide go-karting. Go-karting is similar to a losing leader.

“So to put go-karting in its entirety in a department store, to me, it’s not going to work.”

The leisure center is still the sole option for Aberdeen’s former John Lewis shop, after ideas for a continental-style local produce market were thwarted by the council’s plans for the new Flint market on Union Street.

So, what would the shopping guru do with the empty George Street landmark instead? “I think [turning it into flats] is the only route to go down,” said the architect.

“Offices are unnecessary in the city center.There is some demand, but I believe that offices have been established successfully in other parts of Aberdeen where people may want to be.

“Retail is eventually unnecessary there, so you must transform it into something else. “To me, the only additional category that is required is residential. So that’s what I think you should do.

Aberdeen City Council officials developed ideas for flats, residences and even a rooftop garden for the former John Lewis building.

However, these fell through after Lib Dem council co-leader Ian Yuill ruled out purchasing the building to make them a reality.

TeamSport, the go-karting developer, and EP Properties, the owner of Aberdeen’s former John Lewis building and the Bon Accord Centre, were asked for comment.

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