A £1 billion project over 30 years

The £1 billion transformation of Dundee waterfront encompasses 240 hectares of development land stretching 8km alongside the River Tay.

The aim is to propel the city to international acclaim.

Following preparation of a masterplan in 1998 and major consultation in 2000, the area was divided into five focussed zones: Riverside, Seabraes, Central Waterfront, City Quay and Dundee Port.

The vision for the waterfront is: “To transform the City of Dundee into a world-leading waterfront destination for visitors and businesses through the enhancement of its physical, economic and cultural assets.”

Highlights so far include the V&A announcement (2009); Tayside House demolition (2012); New rail station construction starting (2015); Slessor Gardens opened by the Queen (2016); first concerts (2017); planning application approved for development of Site Six (2017); new rail station, Sleeperz Hotel and V&A Dundee opens (2018). Dundee City Council leader John Alexander, who also sits on the Dundee Waterfront management board, is aware of recent differences in opinion about Site Six.

However, he said all planning processes and public consultation opportunities have been adhered to and said it is important people do not lose sight of the bigger picture.

“The Waterfront Project was originally designed and set out following public consultation when I was still in primary school – we are now 20 years into that plan,” he said.

“Of course, the V&A was never part of that original plan, although the site on which it sits was always marked out for development.

“In many ways, I think it shows how opinions have changed over the years and how much people have now bought into the V&A – opinions were not always so strongly in favour.

“The fact that people want to look at it from every angle should be seen as a positive.

“However, the reality is that the waterfront has always been an economic intervention to address Dundee’s underlying problems, be they unemployment, lower business startup rates or lower levels of economic growth.

“If we were to leave this site, any site or the whole waterfront open then it wouldn’t assist in addressing those issues.

“We have created Slessor Gardens and are soon to start on the new playpark and Waterfront Place next to the V&A itself as additional open spaces for the public to enjoy.

“But grass and open space doesn’t create jobs, investment or opportunities for young people.

“Site Six, love it or hate it, will deliver on all of those fronts. It is but a shell at the moment and much like the construction of the railway station and V&A Dundee, the finished article will look significantly different.

“It was placed in the public domain and there were opportunities, not only to submit views but also to address councillors directly at the planning committee.”