November 21 2024

Urban college campuses could transform the centres of Dundee and Arbroath under a 10-year vision by Dundee & Angus College to turn the presence of distressed malls into an opportunity to reorient academic life towards more central locations.

The college is preparing for a new relationship with the region by setting its sights on the tired Wellgate Shopping Centre, one of seven key areas prioritised for development in Dundee's 2050 plan, which would form a new seat of learning to the east of the city centre.

Born of a desire to pursue a more collaborative approach to learning the relocation would dovetail with a parallel approach in nearby Arbroath, where moves are also afoot to pull off a similar feat by relocating to a more central site at the exhausted Abbeygate Shopping Centre. Drawing inspiration from Scandinavia and Australia the inclusive learning model brings education, employment services and support together under one roof, broadening access to learning, skills and services.

Dundee & Angus currently splits its Dundee accommodation between far-flung Kingsway and the parkland Gardyne, which would be expanded to incorporate a construction, engineering and science facility and innovation hub. Both the existing Kingsway and Arbroath campuses would close if the plans come to fruition, the latter including notable Victorian properties.

Simon Hewitt, principal of Dundee & Angus College, commented: “This is an amazing opportunity to build world-class facilities that are fit for the future and develop a transformational model for education and employment services located in the heart of each community we serve. “Not only would each new campus be modern, sustainable, fully digital environments, but they would also be right at the core of each community helping to advise, educate and train the workers that the Dundee and Angus region will need to continue its economic regeneration.”

Provisionally budgeted at around £265m the plan has already seen indicative designs drawn up by BDP, illustrating how the project could catalyse additional urban renewal. 

4 Comments

#1 Posted by Taysider on 21 Nov 2024 at 16:07 PM

It's a great idea, moving the colleges out of the city centre was a mistake. But can't help but feel demolishing the entire shopping centre and replacing it with a giant red shoebox is just wasteful, the most sustainable building is one that's already standing. A hefty retrofit of the centre would be best, that interior mock-up photo actually isn't to dissimilar to wellgate as it is now. Keeping the building and connecting it with the existing library, while allowing ground floor shops would be the best of both worlds.

#2 Posted by Islands of sanity on 22 Nov 2024 at 08:40 AM

A great idea and it should be pursued. Town centres should be about activity and social interaction as well as retail. However not a new idea. Clackmannan College was moved from Sauchie to Alloa Town Centre in lovely Reiach and Hall building.

#3 Posted by Geraffie on 22 Nov 2024 at 16:05 PM

Looks great! Widening access to the high street by demolishing the Wellgate is a positive change

#4 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 23 Nov 2024 at 12:56 PM

All the focus on the new -- what about the old College of Commerce site on Constitution Road?

Blot on the landscape that has been left to rot.

Only a pedestrian bridge away from the city centre -- surely a more sustainable solution.

The red shoebox design vibe is poor and it will not be cheap.

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