Retailing in Dundee City Centre—The Future Introduction Dundee city centre plays an important role within the city of Dundee as a whole; within the new Dundee city region (see figure 1); and within the whole of the Scottish economy. In recent years, continuing improvements throughout Dundee, including in the city centre, have helped to improve Dundee’s role as one of the four main Scottish cities. Dundee city centre is home to many a range of sectors. Throughout the city centre there is housing, offices and other businesses, a range of leisure and heritage activities and retailing. Good transport links make the city centre accessible from the rest of Dundee and beyond. A map of Dundee city centre is shown in figure 2. (For the purposes of this project, it is assumed that the Victoria and Albert Museum will be opening a museum within the waterfront area of Dundee. This new museum is referred to as ‘V&A Dundee’.)
Figure 1 The Dundee city region (TAYplan 2009)
Dundee City Centre—The Vision Dundee city centre must continue to be the thriving heart of the city of Dundee. Continuing improvements over the next 5 years will ensure this. A vibrant city centre will help strengthen Dundee’s image throughout Scotland and the rest of the world. On‐going and future developments, such as the V&A Dundee and the redevelopment of the waterfront, will add to Dundee’s reputation as an important regional centre. In turn, this can help increase investment within Dundee and attract people to Dundee to live, work and enjoy leisure pursuits. Dundee city centre has a sustainable future. There is a wide mix of uses within the city centre, including commercial, leisure activities, housing and retailing. There are excellent public transport links to the rest of Dundee and to the rest of the United Kingdom. The compactness of the city centre means it is accessible on foot. The retail sector in Dundee city centre has an important role to play in supporting the city centre. Dundee has become a major shopping destination due to the strong existing retail sector. The retail sector provides employment, attracts visitors to Dundee and attracts investment to Dundee. The policies outlined here will ensure the continued vitality and viability of the retail sector in Dundee city centre in the future.
Wellgate Centre
McManus Galleries
Forum Centre
Overgate
V&A at Dundee Cultural Quarter
Boundary of Dundee city centre
Figure 2 Dundee City Centre
Policy 1
Policy 3
DUNDEE’S ROLE AS A MAJOR REGIONAL RETAIL CENTRE
PRIMARY RETAIL AREA
Dundee’s position as one of Scotland’s key shopping destinations must be supported. Any new or expanded retail developments in the Dundee, Perth, Angus and North Fife Strategic Development Planning Authority (TAYplan) area will only be considered if they do not detract from Dundee’s position as a major regional retail centre.
Policy 2
RETAIL DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT DUNDEE
Within the Primary Retail Area of Dundee city centre (as defined on Policy Map 2), Class 1 (shops) use will be encouraged on the ground floors of premises. Class 2 (financial, professional and other services) and Class 3 (food and drink) will be permitted providing • no more than two out of any seven adjacent ground floor premises are non‐Class 1 uses • no more than 35% of the total ground floor area of any seven adjacent premises is non‐Class 1 use, and • it can be demonstrated that the non‐Class 1 use will improve the overall environment for shoppers and will add to the vibrancy and vitality of the Primary Retail Area. Within the Primary Retail Area, change of use from Class 3 to Class 2 (normally permitted change) will only be permitted if the change conforms with the restrictions listed above. (Use Class Orders information from Scottish Executive (1997))
A sequential approach is to be applied when considering new or expanded retail developments throughout Dundee. Locations for such developments will be considered in the following order: 1. Dundee city centre 2. the edge of Dundee city centre 3. district shopping centres, as identified on Policy Map 1 4. other locations, provided a. the site is readily accessible by public transport, bicycle and/or on foot, and b. the proposed development does not damage the vitality and viability of the city centre or the district shopping centres.
Lochee Perth Road Hilltown Albert Street Broughty Ferry
Figure 3—Policy Map 1 District shopping centres (Dundee City Council 2005) TP31001 Territorial Planning and Development
Submitted by David Rennie
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Policy 4
Policy 8
SECONDARY RETAIL AREA
REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FORUM CENTRE
Within the Secondary Retail Area of Dundee city centre (as defined on Policy Map 2), Class 1 (shops), Class 2 (financial, professional and other services) and Class 3 (food and drink) uses will be supported on the ground floors of premises. On the ground floors of premises, proposals for changes to Classes other than 1, 2 or 3 will not be supported unless it can be demonstrated that the change of use will add to the vitality and viability of the Secondary Retail Area.
Redevelopment of the Forum Centre will be supported to improve the shopping experience within the city centre of Dundee and to improve the retail environment within the shopping centre for shoppers and businesses, including small independent traders. Improvements to the access route between High Street and Albert Square will be strongly encouraged to create a legible route between V&A Dundee and the McManus Galleries.
Policy 5
SHOP FRONT IMPROVEMENTS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RETAIL AREAS
Policy 9
Dundee City Council will set up an annual fund to provide grants to help improve the shop fronts of premises within the Primary and Secondary Retail Areas. This will include improvements to the shop fronts of vacant premises and to the frontages of upper floors of properties where it can be demonstrated that any such improvements will improve the environment for shoppers within the Primary and Secondary Retail Areas.
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WELLGATE CENTRE The owners of the Wellgate Centre will be encouraged to • attract a new supermarket to the shopping centre (see Policy 10) • to create a marketplace‐style area for small traders who may be displaced during and after the redevelopment of the Forum Centre • to create a more direct route through the shopping centre from Victoria Road to Murraygate.
Policy 6 Policy 10
SUPPORT FOR OVERGATE As one of Dundee’s major shopping centres, the Overgate will be supported to ensure its continued success. Overgate’s owners will be assisted and encouraged to • improve access routes into the shopping centre from the southeast • work to achieve the aims of Policy 3 (Primary Retail Areas) • extend the centre (see Policy 7) • develop a partnership with V&A Dundee to increase shoppers’ awareness of V&A Dundee • attract new major national retailers to Dundee.
SUPERMARKETS AND CONVENIENCE STORES The provision of new supermarkets and convenience stores will be supported to provide additional food retailing for city centre residents, workers and visitors. These new food stores will be supported throughout the city centre area and will especially be encouraged in the following areas: • within the Wellgate Centre • in the east of the city centre • in the west of the city centre. These locations are shown on Policy Map 2.
Policy 7
EXTENSIONS TO OVERGATE The owners of Overgate will be encouraged to implement the current proposals for the extension to the northwest of the shopping centre. A further extension to Overgate will be supported to allow a major national retailer to open a branch in Dundee for the first time. Land to the northwest of the shopping centre (as shown on Policy Map 2) will be reserved for this development and associated multi‐storey parking provision.
Policy 11
CREATION OF A SECOND SHOPMOBILITY SITE To increase the accessibility and availability of the current Shopmobility scheme in the city centre, Dundee City Council will work with the Shopmobility charity to provide a second site for the scheme. It is expected that this site will be located reasonably close to the waterfront area, V&A Dundee and the railway station. The Council will also consider providing funding to increase the operating hours of the Shopmobility scheme, for the benefit of local people and visitors.
Policy 12
ON‐STREET ENTERTAINMENT To increase the vibrancy of the overall shopping experience within the city centre, the provision of on‐street entertainment, such as musicians and performers, will be encouraged. The city council will consider implementing a scheme to employ (or grant licences to) street entertainers. It is envisaged that directly‐employed street entertainers would help to raise funds for the increased opening hours of the Shopmobility scheme (see Policy 11).
Policy 13 Primary Retail Area
Overgate Extension (permission granted)
Secondary Retail Area
Further Extension to Overgate Locations for New Supermarkets / Convenience Stores
STREET MARKETS Street markets, such as farmers’ markets and continental markets, will be supported to add vitality and vibrancy to the city centre. It is envisaged that these markets will be held at least once per month
Figure 4—Policy Map 2 Proposals for Dundee City Centre TP31001 Territorial Planning and Development
Submitted by David Rennie
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