Whitfield Shopping Centre is earmarked for demolition and the site turned into affordable, sustainable housing, The Courier can reveal.
A leaked email from Dundee City Council’s City development director to all parties involved in the regeneration scheme for the area outlined the plans to demolish the all-but-empty shopping centre, which has latterly been operating with only a convenience store and a Chinese restaurant.
According to the source, Mike Galloway’s email states that as the London-based owner has now released the Co-Operative from a long-standing lease at the centre, it is the council’s intention to buy the centre and move the project forward to demolition.
It is understood that although the Co-Operative had closed its store in the shopping centre several years ago, it had still been tied to a long-term lease which still had several years to run.
The council would have to buy the shopping centre from owners Douglas Shelf 7 and cancel the leases of the two remaining tenants before being able to demolish it, according to the source.
A spokesman for Dundee City Council was asked to confirm the claims but responded: “Any information in connection with the Whitfield Shopping Centre is commercially confidential.”
George Roberts, chairman of the Whitfield Regeneration Group, said he was in favour of the demolition plan and its possible replacement by “affordable and sustainable housing”.
He said: “That has been proposed at meetings before as there’s only two shops left there now.
“The longer it stays like that the more likely it will be vandalised and we would support houses in the long term.
“I don’t know what would happen to the shops though, there is a planning application in for a new post office in the old social club and we would be keen for that to happen, especially if it could include a convenience store for people in the Lower Whitfield area.
“The shopping centre will just be a blot on the landscape if it is left the way it is.”
The planning application for refurbishment of the former Whitfield Social Club goes before the city development committee on Monday.
The applicants aim to bring the building back into use with a retail element and a fish and chip shop also planned for the vacant property in Lothian Crescent.
Park Investments (Dundee) Ltd say the project could create much-needed jobs in the area and the project has been backed by local councillor Brian Gordon, who had previously campaigned unsuccessfully for the former Whitfield post office to remain open.
Mr Gordon said at the time: “I would fully welcome a new post office in the area, Lower Whitfield is crying out for one.”
He said elderly people in the area had contacted him about it and said they are finding it difficult to get to the Berwick Drive facility.
He added: “As far as the convenience store and takeaway go, I wouldn’t comment and the committee will decide whether there is a need for those in the area.”