Dundee’s troubled Western Gateway project has been dramatically revived by plans for a 600-home development worth more than £150 million.
Springfield Properties, a substantial housebuilder from the north of Scotland, have stepped in where major national construction companies have feared to tread.
Their arrival is a significant and long-awaited boost for Dundee City Council’s much criticised proposals to promote the city’s western outskirts as a desirable place to live.
The council have tried for more than a decade to attract housebuilders to the Western Gateway the land between Liff village and the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel.
Three sites Liff South, South Gray and Swallow Village were identified for hundreds of new homes to better manage the city’s expansion and housing needs. New homes had in the past been concentrated on Broughty Ferry in the east, but the council wanted future development to take place in the west to create a better balance of housing across Dundee and more evenly spread the pressure on services like roads and schools.
The council even spent an estimated £3.2 million upgrading Dykes of Gray Road to serve the three Western Gateway sites with the hope of recovering the cost through Section 75 agreements with housebuilders they hoped to attract.
Companies like Bett, Cala, Stephen and Barratt all turned down the opportunities offered, and their disinterest sparked criticism of the council from politicians and some developers who believed the Western Gateway concept had been a big mistake.
Elgin-based Springfield have now stepped forward with proposals for South Gray. They estimate the value of the 600-home village will be in excess of £150 million and it will create more than 100 new construction jobs and sustain hundreds more in the area over several years.
South Gray will have a traditional village look and feel, and will complement the surrounding area. There will be a village green, community hall, play space and pitches.
Homes are likely to be two, three and four-bedroom detached and semi-detached with appeal to all ages and stages. The company boasts credentials for building energy efficient houses with the latest features.
Sandy Adam, Springfield’s chairman, said: “This is a wonderful site and one we are very excited about. Dundee has undergone an exciting transformation over the years you just need to look at the waterfront to see that. A site like this doesn’t come up often. It offers homes in the countryside, coupled with excellent transport links to the whole of Scotland and quick access to the city centre.
“We have an excellent track record for developing on sites that have previously stalled.
“We are keen to move quickly at South Gray, possibly even starting to build in 2014. We appreciate that the council have been frustrated by the lack of development and have already put in the spine road in order to encourage activity.”
They will lodge the proposal of application notice to the city council this week, and after a series of consultation events early in the new year, will submit formal planning applications in March.
The first public consultation meeting is planned for Thursday January 23 from noon to 8pm at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel.