Stirrings on Site 6

Following abandonment of plans to establish a Marriott Hotel on Central Waterfront Site 6, a new Proposal of Application Notice has been lodged for the vacant part of the site to the east of Agnes Husband House (Dundee City Council reference 22/00251/PAN).

The applicant is Robertson Construction Tayside, in association with Cooper Cromar Architects of Glasgow. The proposal is described as a major development comprising phased development to deliver office accommodation and residential units, along with other commercial uses (Use Classes 1, 2 and 3), access and parking.

As part of the public consultation, more detailed plans are expected to be revealed at two events (dates to be confirmed) at Dundee House. There will also be an online exhibition. Members of the public are encouraged to participate and give their views.

Agnes Husband House is the controversial office block, now occupied by Social Security Scotland, which stands opposite the V&A and Dundee station. The Trust objected to this development on grounds of its height and indifferent design qualities, amongst other things. We hope the visual standard of the new elevations on the site may be more pleasing to the eye than Agnes Husband House, although admittedly that is not a high bar to clear.

Annual General Meeting, followed by The Howff: The Dead Centre of Dundee

Our Annual General Meeting will be followed (at 7.40 pm) by a talk by retired City Archivist Iain Flett, who is well known to many of our members.

Iain will outline the history of the ancient central burial ground, the Howff, which dates back to the sixteenth century.

Note this talk replaces our previously-billed event ‘A Menace in the Archives’, which has been postponed.

Thursday 21 April 2022, 7.00pm

Dundee Art Society Gallery, 17 Roseangle, Dundee, DD1 4LP

Will Willison House find a new use?

The Category B listed Willison House at 56 Barrack Street dates back to 1934. This distinctive Art-Deco building was erected in the shadow of the massive Ward Mills and served as the retail premises of John L Robertson Ltd, house furnishers, until its abandonment about ten years ago.

After at least one false start, fresh plans involving the retention of the Barrack Street and Willison Street faience facades have been made. Edinburgh-based property firm KR Developments seeks to use the site for purpose-built student accommodation. You can view and participate in the public consultation (which closes on 21 April 2022) here.

Our planning group is examining the proposals, which appear to involve the addition of a tall masonry extension and ‘glass box’, similar to the nearby Dundee House.