Scotland’s national agency for sport has insisted a £10 million state-of-the-art centre will be built in Dundee by the end of next year, despite plans having not yet been submitted for approval.
Almost two years after the Regional Performance Centre for Sport was promised to the city, The Courier can reveal proposals are likely to finally go before councillors next month.
Local MSP Jenny Marra, who campaigned to have the national centre in Dundee, has written to sportscotland and Dundee City Council to request a joint meeting to get an update on when the regional facility will be built.
A council spokeswoman confirmed a report on provisional proposals will be brought before councillors after the summer recess, which comes to an end on August 15.
A sportscotland spokesman said: “Dundee City Council are in control of the planning and design phase and it is right that they take the time to ensure the correct approach is delivered for the people of Tayside, given the importance of the project.
“Football, basketball, volleyball, netball, athletics, and cycling are the sports which have expressed an interest in this development.
“At sportscotland we are committed to ensuring that people across Scotland have access to more and better opportunities to enjoy and progress in their sports, and this project in Dundee represents a wonderful opportunity for the people of Dundee and the surrounding areas.”
The body has already pledged £5 million to the facility, which will be located in Caird Park, and insists it is confident it can be finished within 2016, despite the current lack of progress. It is understood there is no threat to funding should it run over time.
Ms Marra said: “I have asked for a meeting with the council and sportscotland to see what progress they are making. It’s two years now since the centre was promised to Dundee, but we still haven’t seen plans and we don’t know when building work is to start.”
The former sports minister, Dundee East MSP Shona Robison, promised the project to the city after the decision was taken to locate a National Performance Centre for Sport in the central belt.
Current Sports Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “All of the partners involved in the project are working extremely hard to see this exciting project come to fruition and sportscotland is working with the council to support the development of plans for the centre.”