Transport links are primed for a major shake-up as part of ambitious plans to build a new £15 million green travel hub in the heart of Dundee.
We can reveal council bosses hope to transform the site of the current Bell Street car park “beyond recognition” and create a network of pedestrian and cycle corridors.
These would lead from the north-east and north-west of the city to the new state-of-the-art facility, which would be surrounded by some of the city’s busiest education, employment and leisure centres.
A ‘radical shift’ in city transport
The project will make up one of three bids put forward for major initiatives in Dundee as part of the UK Government’s Levelling Up fund.
Officials believe the new hub will prompt a “radical shift” in transport in the northern quarter of the city so that the majority of journeys will be made on foot or by bike.
Planning documents, seen by us, illustrate how general car parking capacity in Bell Street would be reduced by around half as part of the project.
The new hub would include:
- Secure cycle storage and e-bike hire for residents and commuters.
- A solar and battery storage system on the upper floor to power a total of 300 electric vehicles.
- Improved cycle and walking infrastructure with better links to the city centre.
- A potential electric cargo bike depot.
- Adapted accessible charging facilities for 50 vehicles and subsidised parking for car club vehicles.
- An information point with live data to promote onward journeys.
It is understood the designs for the hub include a traffic-free ground floor with open access to a new public space.
There would be also be segregated freeway for pedestrians and cyclists.
‘Transformed beyond recognition’
Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said: “Dundee is an ambitious city and these plans show that clearly.
“Since the initial announcement on Levelling Up was made, the council has been building proposals that are ambitious and likely to succeed.
“Abertay University has redeveloped the neighbouring buildings and that has made the case for upgrading Bell Street even stronger.
“This area could be transformed beyond recognition.”
How will the hub be paid for?
Dundee City Council wants to bid for around 90% of the cost of the £15 million project through the UK Government’s Levelling Up fund.
A further £850,000 will come from the authority’s capital plan, while £150,000 could be made available if the council is successful in bidding for an Innovate UK grant for deploying a new type of disabled charging hardware.
A completion date for the planned project has not yet been confirmed.
Council officials are preparing a submission for the next round of Levelling Up bids, which closes on July 6.
The announcement date for successful bids has also not been released but funds awarded must be spent by March 31 2025.
‘The start of something special’
Mr Alexander said the project could be a catalyst for further initiatives.
He said: “A key focus for the council is improving the environment and these proposals seek to address air pollution, encourage cycling and support the broader uptake of electric vehicles.
“They could completely revamp the area and act as a real catalyst for further projects and in supporting jobs.
“Dundee has recently been acknowledged by the UK Climate Change Committee as a leader in terms of its work on sustainability and these plans will raise that work further still.
“We hope that this is the start of something special for Dundee.”
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