Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Holiday apartments proposal approved
A BLOCK of city centre offices is to be transformed into new holiday apartments with a rooftop terrace.
Plans to alter the vacant offices at the corner of Whitehall Crescent and Crichton Street were submitted in July by Assurance Developments Ltd.
Promising an “exciting and contemporary” new look, the developers hope to reinvent the block as 27 serviced holiday apartments, capitalising on Dundee’s future in tourism.
Each apartment will have kitchen and en-suite facilities, providing a more athome setting for visitors to the city for years to come.
In addition, the building will be topped off with a new rooftop terrace offering panoramic views stretching from City Square and across Slessor Gardens to the River Tay.
A “living wall” of artificial greenery will be added to the facade to act as a focal point, and to rejuvenate the exterior of the original block, which was built in the 1970s.
The existing restaurant on the ground floor would be unaffected.
Dundee City Council planners welcomed the application and said it complied with a number of l ocal development policies that are designed to encourage regeneration in the city.
In her review of Assurance’s application, case officer Claire Myles wrote: “Overall the proposal would enhance the appearance of the existing building in the context of the surrounding built environment and its prominent corner location to the west of the Caird Hall.
“The change of use to serviced apartments on the upper floors would not alter the ground floor, would encourage more footfall into the city centre and would result in the reuse of a vacant building.
“This would add to the vitality of the city centre.
“In terms of design, the proposal would result in a visual improvement over that which exists at present, and as such it would enhance the Central Conservation Area.”
However, a number of conditions were imposed on the development to ensure it was used as intended, including a 90-day limit on the time a person could lease an apartment.
Ms Myles said that while the accommodation was of an “acceptable” standard for temporary use, it would not meet permanent residential requirements.
In addition, Assurance will be held responsible for any damage to surrounding pavements and roads whilst carrying out the renovations.
The developer was contacted for comment but had not responded as the Tele went to press today. Ourvoice PAGE 16