Plans to revive an impressive monument to Dundee’s weaving heritage have been changed to give the site a secure future.
The Wallace Craigie Works on Broughty Ferry Road have a history dating back to 1835 but have fallen into decay.
The American Civil War resulted in an acute shortage of cotton in Britain and the factory thrived providing an alternative in the form of flax.
A massive reconstruction and extension were carried out and the whole block became the last functioning mill in Dundee to be owned and operated throughout its life by the same firm.
Long deserted as a workplace, the site has seen various projects to restore it with housing failing to come to fruition and a Historic Scotland inspection in 2010 reporting the condition of the listed building as “very poor”.
It has deteriorated further but in 2012 the city council in partnership with Craigie Estates joined with the Scottish Government’s National Housing Trust to produce a scheme for affordable homes for renting.
The Voigt Architectural Partnership in Arbroath published plans for the development with two modern buildings acting as an amphitheatre to display the old mill.
Progress stalled but has restarted after pressure to reduce the several-million-pounds cost.
Amendments have been made and a public consultation meeting on new plans is being held at the Baxter Park Pavilion next Wednesday.
If approved by the council, contractors could be on site by September.