Plans for student flats are given the go-ahead

Plans for two student flat developments which will be home to more than 500 people in Dundee city centre have been approved by the council.

In West Marketgait, the Shell garage will be demolished to make way for one of the sites.

In Brown Street, a former mill building will be turned into 341 bedrooms.

The West Marketgait plans will see 173 selfcontained studio flats built by Crosslane Student Developments UK Ltd, with a further six separate bedrooms elsewhere, meaning the buildings will be able to house 179 people.

Russell Pepper of Dundee Cycling Forum gave objections to both planning applications.

Discussing the Marketgait site, he said: “It’s an objection based on cycling parking.”

Crosslane hopes to start the construction this summer, and would aim to complete the development in 23 months.

Russell Pepper also spoke on the Brown Street development, discussing concerns over road safety.

He said students are “likely to cross unsafely over the dual carriageway in West Marketgait”.

The Brown Street plans will see 361 students housed in a former mill building.

The building itself will be seven storeys, with planners designing it in an “H” shape.

The proposals include five commercial units on the ground floor, and reception and main access to the student accommodation.

It was agreed that prior to any work commencing, a road safety audit would be carried out by the developer, which will be submitted to the council for written approval, and would include consideration for a road crossing across West Marketgait.