The Trust in Action
Recently the Trust has raised the following issues:-
- Developments at the harbour:
The proposal by Forth Energy to erect two wind turbines and a Biomass power plant at the harbour is creating great public controversy in Dundee.
Some of the questions raised are about sustainability, health, alternative technology and more to which the Trust cannot offer expert responses. Our main focus is Dundee,s built environment and its relationship with the people who live here.
The lack of a planning context is a particular problem. Whilst the Scottish Government have aspirations for the amount of renewable energy in Scotland there is no physical strategy to indicate where this might be provided and how - by wind, biomass, or tidal energy. Further uncertainty arises from the lack of any declared strategy by Forth ports for the development of the Harbour and the absence of a Local Plan for the Harbour.
Some things are certain. Dundee remains a port and many jobs depend upon the harbour. The presence of a working harbour is a valuable tool in attracting development to Dundee and the harbour is one of only two areas within the City where larger, so called bad neighbour developments can be located. In the past bulky buildings such as the Caledon Shipyard and Carolina Port Power station have been located in the Harbour without adverse comment, and oil rigs have regularly been stationed at the Stannergate while being refurbished or repaired.
The Trust's planning group has examined the formal application by Forth Energy to construct a "Renewable Energy Plant" and has submitted comments to the Scottish Government, as shown on the attached pdf.
Download Comments on Biomass plant here[PDF-26Kb]
- The Trust has wholeheartedly supported the proposal to site a branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Central Waterfront. For the latest development and the Trust's statement to the press see VandAstatement [PDF-16.4Kb].
- The Trust would like to see the identification of a permanent site for Unicorn as a matter of urgency. Our suggestion would be within the water feature in the Central Waterfront scheme. Lottery funding is unlikely to be available without this commitment, and the ship, an important part of Dundee's heritage, will be lost to the City.
- The Trust has also expressed the view that the standard of design in the Central Waterfront should be of the highest and that there should be some kind of planning brief in place to ensure that the scale of the development is consistent with the City Centre.
- Following our correspondence with Historic Scotland and Dundee City Council, permissions are now in place for the restoration of the former Tay Hotel, but we remain concerned that the work shows no sign of commencing yet.
- The Linlathen Iron Bridge is a truly unique structure which is due to be restored by adjoining developers after a campaign by the Trust. An application to "restore" the bridge by building a new bridge within the original parapets has been submitted to Historic Scotland for a decision, following objections from the Trust and other parties.
- Recently the City Council adopted new procedures with regard to the handling of planning applications, which have diminished openness in the decision making process. This has resulted in more applications being decided by officials behind closed doors. Whilst previously it needed only one objection to ensure that a delegated application was decided in public by our elected councillors, it now needs six objections to ensure that an application before a committee. A reason given for this is that Councillors are overworked due to Planning Committees going on too long. We find this somewhat surprising given that, in the past, when Councillors did not enjoy the salaries and pensions which they now have, the system seemed to work to the satisfaction of the public.
- The Trust continues to campaign against the use of untreated cedar cladding on buildings. We feel our earlier but unsuccessful objections on this matter in respect of Apex Hotel, Victoria Dock have demonstrated that this material quickly becomes discoloured and unsightly on weathering in exposed locations.
The Trust has always prided itself in being forward looking and having a positive approach to the development of the City. Accordingly, we have supported, and will continue to support, all those proposals whether the improvement and regeneration of existing buildings or the construction of new buildings which, in our view, would improve the environment.
