Cinema plans for Waterfront jigsaw

A NINE-screen multiplex cinema and a hotel are the cornerstones of a £24 million plan for a gap site at Dundee Waterfront.

Crucible Alba Group wants to transform the site at Greenmarket, directly to the south of Groucho’s music store.

The company said it expects to create 250 permanent jobs at the site in addition to a “significant” number of roles during construction.

The proposed development, which would front on to South Marketgait and extend almost to the car park for Dundee Science Centre and the rear entrance to DCA, includes restaurants and cafes, flats and car parking.

Crucible Alba development director Michael Smart said negotiations are taking place with a number of potential operators for the commercial units within the development. However, the project is at the very earliest stages of the formal planning process, with the developer just this week lodging a proposal of application notice with Dundee City Council. A public consultation to showcase the plan is scheduled for the Malmaison hotel on May 1, but Crucible Alba said it was not immediately i n a position to release architect impression images of the proposed building.

The property developer and asset manager previously completed a number of commercial projects, including the redevelopment of a former abattoir site in St Andrews, which is now a 65-bedroom Premier Inn hotel.

Mr Smart said the Greenmarket site offers a “fantastic opportunity” for redevelopment and was the “final piece in the jigsaw” of reconnecting the city centre with the Waterfront.

He said: “The Greenmarket Leisure Quarter proposals create a leisure destination including a state-of-the-art ninescreen cinema, restaurants and cafes, a hotel, residential accommodation and a public car park.

“The plans complement Dundee City Council’s ambitions for the Waterfront regeneration and will provide an important link between the existing retail city centre offering and the Waterfront development, including the new V&A museum.”

He added: “Discussions are ongoing with a number of cinema operators and restaurant companies and an announcement on these will be made shortly.”

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The gap site.