By Grant Smith

PROPOSALS TO alter the look of listed buildings as part of a £10 million development in Dundee city centre are acceptable, councillors will be told tonight.

Permission has already been granted for the change of use of the former Tay Works calender building and surrounding properties. A 48- bedroom hotel will be created, along with offices, bars and restaurants.

Most of the site is empty, although part of the old mill, which faces on to West Marketgait, has been used as Abertay University’s students union.

The calender works and two smaller buildings are B listed, so special consent is needed to allow some changes to be made. These mainly involve in-filling some openings, providing new windows and removing the external steel fire escape.

The developers also want to make some internal alterations and put up a new fascia running along the front of the mill.

The report by planning officials, which will go before the development quality committee, notes that Dundee Civic Trust has objected to the fascia, although it supports the rest of the scheme in principle.

However, the officials explain that behind the current fascia is a mix of exposed steel beams and brickwork resulting from previous alterations to the building.

Their report says, “The applicants submit that the most effective way to deal with this is to re-introduce a fascia detail on the frontage that will not only screen the unsightly former works, but also accommodate the signage for the variety of future uses that will occupy the building.

“While the reintroduction of such a prominent fascia detail on the main elevation is not ideal, it is a solution that neatly solves the dilemma of screening the mixture of unfortunate construction details that are to be found behind the existing fascia.

“It is considered that the proposed alterations to the buildings that are the subject of this application are acceptable.

“The proposals not only restore and enhance the architectural character of the listed buildings located within the site, but also improve the setting of the surrounding conservation area.”

Should listed building consent be granted, the council will have to let Historic Scotland have the final say before the work can go ahead.

The development also needs to win full planning permission and consent to demolish some unlisted buildings in the southern part of the site—both are subject to applications yet to be brought before the committee.

The company behind the project is Marketgait Developments, part of the Keiller Estates group headed by Dundee business man Bruce Linton.

Budget hotel company Travelodge has already been lined up to run the hotel, employing about 20 people. It would occupy the southern half of the upper floors, with the northern half being converted to offices.

The ground floor would be turned into four theme bars/restaurants and there would be car parking at the rear, off Brown Street.