Home
Dundee waterfront ...
Key waterfront regeneration information
The £1 billion transformation of Dundee city waterfront, which encompasses 240 hectares of development land stretching 8km along the River Tay, is a strategic, focussed and forward-looking 30 year project (2001-2031) that is propelling the city to international acclaim.
The V&A’s new £45 million outreach building, V&A at Dundee, is due to open in 2015. Hotels, businesses and retailers are reaping the rewards of the ongoing city transformation while expectant of significant growth potential as a further 7,000 jobs are created through the waterfront project.
Opportunities for developers, investors and a wide range of business ventures still exist in what is shaping up to be one of Western Europe’s most extensive and transformative waterfront projects and one of Scotland’s biggest waterfront regeneration.
Dundee prides itself on the strong partnerships and good communications that exist between its council, its businesses and its institutions. This partnership ethos is continued through the waterfront project in which all of the involved organisations and stakeholders have a say in decisions. The result is a strong, informed consensus group working towards the combined aim to make Dundee a world leading waterfront destination.
The US-based Intelligent Community Forum has named Dundee as one of the seven most intelligent communities on earth (2007, 2008, and 2010).
The waterfront project
Dundee waterfront project spans five focussed development zones, which are strategically positioned in order to benefit from the existing city fabric and expertise. Individually each zone is important in the local economic outlook, together they are transformational.
The five zones are: Riverside, Seabraes, The Central Waterfront, City Quay and Dundee Port.
The waterfront development has been ranked as a UK top 20 regeneration project (Planning magazine, April 2011) and is expected to become Scotland’s first sustainable community (BREEAM), which will help developers to meet corporate governance obligations while offering the benefit of lower whole life development costs.
Currently in stage 3 of the 30 year project (2001-2031), the city landscape is changing at a steady pace. One third of the £1 billion investment has already been committed, many developments have been completed and many are underway. For developers, investors and businesses, there is now an opportunity to take a strategic stake in the transformation of a city.
“A forward-thinking council has led the way in a bold regeneration of the waterfront and has followed rhetoric with hard money and action.” Tim Allan, Unicorn Property Group
Riverside
The Riverside zone is the main road, rail and air gateway to Dundee from the Scottish central lowlands. It accommodates Dundee Airport and there are proposals in place to create a rail stop and Park and Ride facilities to enable swift access to the other waterfront zones.
Riverside also provides recreation and sporting resources. A former landfill site has been transformed to create a 35 hectare nature park with views over the River Tay, which is intended to be used and accessed by all those living and working in the city.
Seabraes
Dundee is renowned for its expertise in digital media and creative industries. More than 350 businesses in the sector, employing more than 3300 people, are currently based in Dundee and the surrounding area generating a combined annual turnover in excess of £185 million.
The Seabraes zone is strategically positioned to build upon this reputation. It is within walking distance of the V&A at Dundee, University of Dundee, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee Contemporary Arts and the University of Abertay Dundee. Businesses involved in the computer games, animation and design oriented industries benefit from this easy access to potential collaborators and the zone is a hub for the digital media and creative industries. It is also home to the award winning Dundee Science Centre.
A range of premises sizes and pricing to suit companies from the most basic start-ups to established businesses are available. Two sites have also been earmarked for residential development.
The Central Waterfront
The Central Waterfront is the focal point of the project. The ambitious £0.5 billion development involves the demolition of bridge ramps, roads and buildings, which previously separated the city centre from the waterfront. In their place, a new grid iron street pattern, green civic space and attractive boulevards are reconnecting the city with the waterfront to produce a stunning space that will be dominated by the award-winning V&A at Dundee building.
Dundee train station is well positioned in the central waterfront. Station improvements and the enhancement of the outside arrival space are planned to accommodate the increasing travel to the city by commuters and visitors. The V&A at Dundee alone projects visitor numbers of 500,000 in year 1 (2015). New hotels, residential accommodation, cafes, restaurants and retail outlets are required to support the expanding city.
City Quay
City Quay lies to the immediate east of the Central Waterfront, occupying xxx hectares incorporating a potential marina. 750 new homes and apartments and more than 20,000 square metres of commercial space, including almost 10,000 square metres of modern office space divided into two waterfront buildings – River Court and City Court – has been created in City Quay. The Scottish Police’s forensic science headquarters are located in City Court wile a new business community is thriving in renovated historic jute warehouses.
Further investment and development opportunities include the provision of support services for the adjacent Dundee Port activities, residential accommodation, and the creation of a marina in a former dock positioned within this zone.
Dundee Port
With a potential unrivalled in Europe for wind, wave and tidal power, First Minister Alex Salmond has described Scotland as the ‘Saudi Arabia of Renewables’. The government has earmarked Dundee as a strategic site for its ambitious targets for on- and off-shore renewables and the city is rapidly establishing itself as a centre for global renewable research and development, which encompasses wind, hydro, marine, bio, solar and geothermal energy.
Dundee has the largest urban wind turbines in Europe and through the Dundee Sun City project is aiming to become Scotland’s first solar city. With extensive deepwater quayside space and access to the North Sea, Dundee Port is well positioned to attract large scale manufacturing and operation and maintenance functions related to the offshore wind energy industry and tidal technology development. The proximity of large existing industrial sites nearby to supplement the needs of the renewable industry is an additional attraction.
Dundee Renewables has been established to support this endeavour. It is a strategic partnership incorporating the public, private and academic sectors working together to build a renewable energy industry for the city.
Be a part of it
Developers, investors and businesses wishing to become a part of this outstanding project are invited to contact us. The project’s partners are open to ideas and proposals for new developments that respond to changing markets and economies and we welcome you to put your ideas forward.
Detailed information regarding specific opportunities available, along with financial assistance packages and funding opportunities can also be provided.
Detailed information may also be accessed on our websites:
www.dundeewaterfront.com
www.locate-dundee.com
www.vandaatdundee.com
Other information
The V&A at Dundee
V&A at Dundee will be Scotland's leading centre for design, housed in a stunning new building at the heart of Dundee's waterfront. It will showcase Scottish design talent and provide a venue for the V&A's major international touring exhibitions.
For more information, click here >>
