Annfield Road

Getting things done – Annfield Road and Blackness Road #dundeewestend

We recently received concerns about damage to the pavement at the junction of Annfield Road and Blackness Road – see photo.

We therefore brought this to the attention of the council’s Roads Maintenance Partnership requesting repairs and have been advised as follows :

“An order has been raised for repairs to be carried out.”

Dundee Technopole – an update #dundeewestend

Residents have asked us about progress with the Dundee Technopole – the area to east of Annfield Road – running between Hawkhill to the south and Blackness Road to the north.

We asked for an update from the council’s Director of City Development who updated us as follows :

“The existing building fronting the Hawkhill (previously Cyclacel) is currently on site and will be opened shortly as the Centre For Protein degradation.

All other buildings including the Incubator and Tayside Scientific Services remain in useThe University are currently tendering the new building for the Tay Cities Regional Deal funded biomedical cluster, which will occupy the site to the north of the University incubator.

This leaves two or three plots at the northern end of the site which are reserved for future life sciences spin-outs. These will be promoted as part of the Life Sciences Innovation District once this is launched. No fixed time at this stage, but University will move on to this after the Biomedical hub is on site.”

Temporary Traffic Order – Annfield Road


From the City Council :

THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1)

THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS TRAFFIC AUTHORITY being satisfied that traffic on the road should be prohibited by reason of Scottish Water mains repair works being carried out HEREBY PROHIBIT the driving of any vehicle in Annfield Row (from its junction with Annfield Road for a distance of 35 metres), Dundee.

This notice comes into effect on Tuesday 31 August 2021 for 5 working days.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be maintained.

Alternative routes for vehicles are available via Annfield Road / Annfield Street / Peddie Street.

For further information contact 433082.

Executive Director of City Development

Dundee City Council

New future sought for West End Technopole site #dundeewestend

I have called on Dundee City Council to consider additional or alternative uses for the Technopole site in the West End (see photo below) that has sat largely empty for more than the previous decade.     
The site runs to the east of Annfield Road from Blackness Road in the north to Hawkhill to the south.   Funded originally to establish biotechnology, creative industries and digital media operations,  there is some business use of the site but much of it has not been developed and sits empty and, in parts, overgrown.
 
Following constituent concerns about the lack of progress in getting the remainder of the site filled with new businesses and it sitting largely empty, I contacted the council’s City Development Director earlier in the spring about it – to be advised :
 
“I can confirm that DCD Ltd only own one building within the Technopole which is the Incubator II building in James Lindsay Place. The remaining buildings and land is in City Council ownership.
 
The Technopole infrastructure was part funded through ERDF and uses for the site are currently restricted to biotechnology, creative industries and digital media operations. Scottish Government approval to alter these restrictions would be required. Notwithstanding this, consideration is being given to alternative uses of the site which would be subject to Scottish Government approval and planning consent.”
 
(For info – DCD Ltd – Dundee City Development Limited – was established by the City Council some years ago to assist capital growth so the whole site is in essentially in public ownership).
 
I have now written again to senior council officers asking for a progress report on alternative uses for the currently unused parts of the site.    I have also suggested that part of the unused part at the northern end nearest Blackness Road could be converted into some parking provision even short-term to assist residents and businesses in the eastern part of Blackness Road, where parking is difficult.
 
It is vital that proposals come forward to make better use of the currently unused parts of the Technopole site.    It has been under-used for years and this situation cannot continue.    Some short to medium term parking provision would be a boon whilst a longer-term strategy is being developed.

Dundee Technopole

For some considerable time, much of the area of Dundee Technopole south of Blackness Road, immediately east of Annfield Road, has remained undeveloped.    Residents in the area have queried why this is the case and if the City Council is actively marketing the unused the unoccupied parts of the site.
 
The City Council’s Head of Economic Development advises:
 
“With the economy now picking up albeit slowly, there has been no firm interest in the sites at the Technopole, though we continue to show it to relevant potential investors. 
 
The overall demand for land remains low.  There is therefore still no evidence that the use conditions are hampering development and the route of seeking dispensation for any non compliant use that does appear remains valid.”

 

Temporary Traffic Order – Annfield Road

Dundee City Council proposes to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of facilitating gas main reinforcement works. The Order is expected to be in force for four weeks from 16 February 2009. Its maximum duration in terms of the Act is eighteen months.
The effect of the Order to prohibit temporarily all vehicular traffic in Annfield Road from Hawkhill to Blackness Road.
Parking in Annfield Road will be suspended for the duration of the works.  Access to businesses will be maintained for the duration of the works.
An alternative route will be available via Hawkhill, Peddie Street and Blackness Road.
Please forward any comments you may have regarding this proposal to the Network Management Team, Planning and Transportation Department, Tayside House, Crichton Street, Dundee, no later than five working days prior to the commencement date.
If you have any queries please contact the City Council on 433168.