The first office and retail space in the controversial Site Six development in Dundee has gone on the rental market.
Property adviser Ryden is listing the “Grade A office opportunity” on its website.
The development, opposite the V&A Dundee museum, has been attacked by critics, including Labour MSP Jenny Marra and rock star Chrissie Hynde, who described it as a “horrible carcass”, when she was in the city for a Slessor Gardens concert this summer.
Council leader John Alexander has insisted it was always at the heart of the waterfront plans — even before the V&A became part of the picture.
A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “We are now starting to actively market the building in anticipation of completion in early summer 2019.
“Situated next to V&A Dundee, and with views over the River Tay, it is one of the best located speculative office developments in Scotland.
“The building is large enough to accommodate several hundred new jobs, with rentals significantly lower than equivalent standard premises in Edinburgh.
“Recent improvements to rail services between Dundee and Edinburgh mean that this development is now only 66 minutes from Haymarket. This allows us to target back office expansion and relocation from Edinburgh, in sectors such as finance, legal and administration.
“The city council and Ryden are working together to promote the building to the property market.”
It comes as plans have emerged for what could be Scotland’s tallest building between the V&A and the Tay Road Bridge.
A formal planning application has yet to be made for the Discovery Heights design, being led by developers InverTay Homes, but if it does go ahead it would be taller than the 417ft Glasgow Tower.
However, Mr Alexander was less positive about this proposal, saying it would not be in keeping with the overall waterfront plans.
Describing the scheme as a “fantasy”, Mr Alexander said he first heard about it when it was reported in the media last week.
The Courier approached Ryden to ask how much interest there had been in Site Six, and how much rents were likely to cost, but the company did not respond by the time of going to press.
