High rise housing remains “vital” to Dundee, the city council has said, as it prepares to invest almost £4 million in improvements.
Some of the most iconic multi-storey properties have been razed to the ground in recent years, with the Derby and Alexander Street buildings disappearing from sight.
Others remain hugely popular with tenants, however, and in recent years they have undergone a transformation.
By the end of next year Dundee City Council will have invested almost £20m in their repair and upkeep.
Housing convener John Alexander believes that is money well spent as they remain hugely important to the city.
Despite a perceived move towards lower-level housing, multi-storey properties still account for 1,004 of Dundee’s 12,500 or so local authority homes.
“We have a long-term commitment to our multi-storey homes,” Mr Alexander said.
“There is an important future for them.
“A number of these blocks have disappeared but when they provide such good accommodation and when there are so many people waiting for housing I cannot see that we would knock down those that remain.
“There are 1,004 homes within Dundee’s remaining multis, which is a significant proportion of the city’s local authority homes.
“Thanks to the investment that has been made these are energy efficient and modern properties and they are nice places to live.
“Though some do not like them, many tenants love them. I have heard that first-hand from residents.”
The latest investment plan is set out in a report to the city’s housing committee, with projects planned for blocks at Whorterbank, Lansdowne, Kirk Street, St Mary’s and Hilltown.
Works will focus on safety and security and will include the replacement of lift car installations, general and emergency lighting, CCTV installation and upgrading of controlled entry systems.
“Our tenants enjoy homes which meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard, but we are in no way complacent about that and will continue to invest in the housing stock,” Mr Alexander said.
“We started on the inside, upgrading properties and improving heating systems.
“Now we are moving to the outside and doing what we can to ensure that people feel safe and have an enjoyable and pleasant environment in which to live.
“We want all of our properties to stand the test of time and to be enjoyed by families for decades to come.”
The £4m investment proposed will be considered by councillors at a housing committee meeting next Monday.