A major road reconstruction project on the western outskirts of Dundee could pave the way to a long-awaited housing development becoming a reality.
The Western Gateway expansion was conceived more than a decade ago for land between the Landmark Hotel and Liff.
With its rolling terrain and views to the river, it was deemed desirable for houses which would boost the city’s economy and also help the spread of commuter traffic.
New homes had been concentrated on Broughty Ferry and the east but housing estates on the western approach to the city enjoying good access to workplaces like Ninewells Hospital, the universities and the city centre would create a more even burden on the roads.
Plans were produced allowing for three “villages” each incorporating about 250 houses, and developers including Betts, Cala and Stephen’s expressed interest.
The first of these, on the site of the main Royal Dundee Liff Hospital building, has seen substantial activity with new homes and converted apartments but work on the other two has been slow to start. These are at the Swallow Village north-west of the hotel and a site south of the House of Gray mansion.
The recession put the brakes on the plans and another stumbling block was that the inability of the infrastructure to support such a major project without significant investment.
A legal agreement was formed to address the latter difficulty which would see the developers paying towards the cost of new roads and other essential services.
After a period of inertia the project moved into gear this week with the start of the £2.3 million upgrade of Dykes of Gray Road the main route linking the proposed villages.
It runs north of the Landmark Hotel and will see the widening of the carriageway, a new footpath, a new drainage system and a new bridge over the Lochee Burn. The overall upgrading will take six months and the road will be closed for most of the time.
The road upgrade is part of the legal agreement and the council is hoping to recoup some of the cost from the developers on the basis of a “roof tax,” a levy per new home.
Once the road is completed there is an expectation that the developers will accelerate their proposals to start building.
Bett Homes were asked on Tuesday about their intentions to start constructing, and a spokeswoman said, “We are currently waiting for the planning situation to be resolved with the council subject to section 75 (legal agreement).”
Stephen Homes said they have withdrawn from the project and no reply was received from Cala at the time of going to press but The Courier understands negotiations with the remaining developers are likely to progress in the next month.
A council spokesman said development has taken place at the Liff Hospital site and there is site under construction and additional land yet to be developed to provide about 250 homes.
He added, “Two further sites at South Gray Village near the House of Gray and Swallow Village to the rear of the Landmark Hotel will provide an additional 500 houses which have been approved by Dundee City Council subject to legal agreements with the developers, which are currently under discussion.”