The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Differing opinions over Site Six
Michael Alexander looks at the row surrounding Site Six at Dundee waterfront and examines what is next
It is the jewel in the crown of Dundee’s £1 billion waterfront development.
Yet amid the fanfare for the opening of the £80 million V&A, not everyone has shown such warmth towards the Site Six building under construction over the road.
Dundonians have been voicing opinions for months about the scale of the six-storey development, earmarked for residential, hotel and office space.
And high-profile headlines were generated weeks ago when Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde stood on stage in nearby Slessor Gardens and told locals to “tear down” a structure she claimed distracted her from her performance.
Dundee United-supporting TV star Lorraine Kelly and Dundee-raised Hollywood actor Brian Cox also spoke against it, while BBC arts
JOHN ALEXANDER DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL LEADER
correspondent Will Gompertz said: “The new railway station-hotel combo is ghastly. As is the crass looking rectangular block being built to its side.
“There are, I am told, plans for more of the same in a £1bn regeneration of Dundee’s waterfront. Oh dear. What a shame.”
For a reminder of the grand vision for Dundee’s central waterfront – which included Site Six from the beginning – people could do worse than look at the scale model on display in the upper concourse of Dundee Railway Station, or look at the Dundee Waterfront website.
While much of the occupancy and potential scale of the other buildings remains speculative, it shows how the longer-term plan is for mixed use development on both the west and east sides of Slessor Gardens – up to six or seven storeys in height.
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Over the next year, I would expect that further applications will come forward.
Meanwhile, the former V&A construction management site will be landscaped to create Waterfront Gardens.
Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said: “Over the next year, I would expect that further applications and interest will come forward for these mixed use sites and this may be accelerated by the V&A effect.”