New ideas are being explored for Dundee’s waterfront - including housing, green spaces and a new bus station
- Andrew Batchelor
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Several of Dundee’s central Waterfront sites have remained vacant for years, but new proposals from the Dundee Civic Trust aim to restart the conversation about how these important areas could evolve in the future.
The discussion paper, published earlier this year, suggests a refreshed approach to the Central Waterfront Masterplan, arguing that a new strategy is needed to reflect how the city has changed since the original framework was drawn up more than two decades ago.
The Trust proposes new uses for seven key plots, focusing on public amenities, sustainable development and reconnecting surrounding streets with the Waterfront.
A recent report to councillors noted that progress on some sites may take longer than originally expected, meaning several areas could remain empty in the short term.
Against that backdrop, the Civic Trust’s document has reignited discussions with its intention to help broaden dialogue on how the remaining land could eventually take shape.
In recent months, the look and feel of the Waterfront has also become a talking point locally, with businesses, organisations and residents expressing fresh interest in how these unused spaces might be improved or maintained before long-term development moves forward.
The Civic Trust’s proposals sit within this wider public conversation about making the most of an area that plays such a prominent role in the city’s identity.
A new look at the Waterfront masterplan
The Civic Trust paper argues that the development model used in the early 2000s needs to be updated to match Dundee’s current needs, particularly around housing, the city’s growing student population, and improved public transport connections.
Proposals include:
A relocated city bus station at Yeaman Shore, offering closer links between rail, bus, the Cultural Quarter and the city centre.
A new primary school on Site 10 to serve anticipated increases in central housing.
High-density residential developments on Sites 5, 6, 11 and 17, inspired by traditional tenement-style living that once defined the city centre.
Soft landscaping and expanded green space on Site 12 to extend Slessor Gardens and enhance the riverside environment.
A visual layout included in the Civic Trust document maps these options together, creating what it describes as a “Liveable Neighbourhood” – a dense, mixed-use area that supports shops, public spaces and pedestrian movement.
A clear public appetite for short-term improvements
Alongside long-term regeneration, there is a growing interest locally in how these empty plots could be improved in the short term.
Earlier this autumn, Ian Ashton from SaltDog Marine drew widespread attention to the appearance of the hoardings and boarded-off land along the Waterfront after another season spent showcasing the wildlife and scenery of the River Tay to visitors.
This sparked a wider community discussion about temporary interventions - simple, low-cost actions that could improve the area while formal development remains years away. Ideas shared publicly include:
Clearing the sites, removing hoardings and introducing grass or wildflower planting
Creating temporary walking routes or landscaped pockets
Hosting outdoor art installations, sculpture trails or seasonal cultural exhibits
Using space to complement Slessor Gardens by allowing larger or more flexible event layouts
Introducing community activity zones or family-friendly play areas over the summer months
Examples from other UK cities were also highlighted, showing how empty plots can be used imaginatively without compromising future development plans.
These ideas align with ongoing city-centre regeneration efforts, including cultural funding designed to activate empty retail units.
As more organisations explore ways to enliven underused sites across Dundee, temporary approaches to the Waterfront have become part of a much broader discussion about what the city can do now, not only what it hopes to build later.
Housing at the heart of long-term change
The Civic Trust document also stresses the need for significantly more housing in the city centre.
It argues that increasing the number of residents living close to shops, venues and workplaces would help sustain local services, support economic growth, and reduce the high number of empty upper-floor properties.
The paper estimates that around 30 potential sites across the city centre could support new housing — either through redevelopment of existing structures or entirely new builds.
Creating a higher-density community at the Waterfront is seen as an important part of this wider strategy.
What comes next?
The Trust emphasises that its proposals are intended to broaden discussion rather than prescribe final outcomes. Many elements would require major investment, policy alignment, and further studies before progressing.
But with several Waterfront sites now expected to remain undeveloped in the near future, the Civic Trust believes this is the right moment to reconsider how Dundee’s most prominent vacant plots could best contribute to the city’s future - both in the long term and in the immediate years ahead.
