News

ONE OF THE largest redevelopment projects in the UK has come under the watchful eye of the country’s leading planner.

Janet Askew, president of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) visited Dundee Waterfront yesterday (MONDAY) to tour the site and meet local planning professionals and students.

Janet Askew, President of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) said:

“The Dundee Waterfront is gaining a national reputation for imaginative planning that is transforming a huge area, so I wanted to see for myself what is taking place on the ground. I was very impressed with the enormous work undertaken by the planning department and by the exemplary partnership between Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise and by the scope of the ambition of this project. Dundee is an impressive example of a city which has a determined approach to regeneration. I was particularly pleased to learn of the wide range of opportunities for young people seeking training and employment.”

Dundee Waterfront is a £1 billion award-winning regeneration project split into five distinct zones that is transforming 240 acres of land along 8km of the River Tay.

It is now well past the halfway mark, with more than £500m of committed investment and most of the major infrastructure works including roads, utilities, demolition, and landscaping completed.

The ‘build’ phase Is underway with a growing community of businesses and residents moving into the area.  Investors, developers, entrepreneurs and financiers are responding to calls to invest in the city and capitalise on £1 billion of tourism spending forecast during the next ten years.

Dundee’s riverfront skyline will change with the construction of a new railway station, the V&A Museum of Design Dundee, a new marina, port developments, offices, hotels, bars, shops, cafes and residential accommodation.

Around 7000 new jobs will be created, providing a wide range of opportunities for young people seeking training and employment.

Dundee Waterfront is a partnership between Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise.

Janet, was joined by Pam Ewen (RTPI Scotland convener, and Manager at TAYplan, Philip Long (Director at V&A Dundee) and Mike Galloway (Director of City Development, Dundee City Council) for her tour of Dundee Waterfront.

During her time in the city she also met more than 20 planners and students to give them an overview of her work during her year as President so far.

A question and answer session created an opportunity to share good practice.

Dundee Waterfront is in an example of planning excellence and won RTPI Scotland’s Scotland’s best places award in 2014.

Media enquiries: Mike Boyle 01382 414196