Dundee Waterfront 'Halfway To Completion'

A thirty year project to transform the waterfront in Dundee is halfway to completion, the council has announced.

Over £75m has been invested in the sites infrastructure, which is currently moving into a mostly marketing phase.

According to a new report, which will be considered by the policy and resources committee on 09 November, all but one of the dozen or so sites ready for development are owned by the council.

Ken Guild convener of Dundee City Council's policy and resources committee said: "We expect more private investment in the project, to the tune of £400m over the next 10 to 15 years, as the surge in interest we are currently getting from developers bears fruit.

"In just 18 months from January 2014 almost £4m has been spent locally with local contractors undertaking major packages of activity at the site.


"In the same period 58% of labour at the waterfront was from the local area and seven new employment opportunities have been created and filled by people who were previously unemployed or in training.

"In addition apprentices have been taken on and work experience placements have been delivered as well as contracts being let to local firms."

Five sites identified in the report have been subject to firm interest, including:

• Yeaman Shore, where private rented apartments, offices and a creative industries hub are being discussed.

• Thomson Avenue (West), where two complementary proposals are under discussion for private rented apartments, a public sector office hub and active ground floor uses.

• Riverside Esplanade (West), where there has been strong interest in creating a four star hotel, offices, private rented accommodation and active ground floor uses.

• Black Watch Parade (East), where a luxury hotel, offices and apartments are under discussion.

In addition, a plot not owned by the council, which belongs to the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board, has also been the subject of interest.

Currently home to the bridge office, the proposal is for a restaurant, offices, car parking, apartments and a replacement building for the road bridge staff to be developed.

(LM/CD)