December 12 2024

Moves to reinvigorate Dundee city centre have turned to a dead mall off the main City Square which has suffered from years of decline.

The Keiller Centre, located off the High Street, dates from the late 1970s and has failed to find new uses for the site in more recent years, prompting moves to reimagine the New Inn site as student housing and commercial space.

Dundee 1881, a special purpose vehicle, has been established by Silkstone Property with a remit to reinstate the historic New Inn thoroughfare with new paving, planting and lighting developed by HarrisonStevens. This would lead to a new student housing development in support of Dundee & Angus College's recent declaration of intent to replace the Wellgate Shopping Centre with an urban campus.

A spokesperson for Dundee 1881, commented: “The development will re-establish a sense of place at this location, as well as acting as a catalyst for regeneration, enhancing one of the city’s oldest thoroughfares and bringing new vitality to the area.

“Our proposals are fully in accordance with the Dundee Strategic Investment Plan 2050, which sets out a long-term vision and identifies a wide variety of opportunities, including doubling the number of residents within the recognised town centre area, and doubling the number of visitors and visitor spend in the next 10 years."

A planning application is expected in spring 2025 following a series of public consultations to be held in the New Year.   

6 Comments

#1 Posted by Sven on 13 Dec 2024 at 10:19 AM

The idea and regeneration is good. I do wonder about student housing, given the principal of Dundee resigned as student numbers, especially overseas, have started their long decline. Demographics mean that student numbers are going to be much lower over the next 10 years and stay that way.

#2 Posted by Agnes on 13 Dec 2024 at 16:33 PM

More student accommodation just what Dundee really needs ! I don’t think so

#3 Posted by Mark on 14 Dec 2024 at 23:15 PM

This is a good news story, regardless of student demographics in the future. The Keiller Centre has been a miserable dump full of empty units for decades now, and any improvements will be very welcome.

#4 Posted by Hairy Hopster on 16 Dec 2024 at 17:22 PM

Totally agree Irene. The lack of high quality student accommodation in the city is a real problem when trying to attract overseas students. Developments like this should hopefully make the city more attractive to students - both domestic and international. It’s a strong ‘Yay’ for me

#5 Posted by Sven on 18 Dec 2024 at 09:35 AM

I’m afraid build it and they will come is not based on fact. China has more people over 50 than under. There are simply not the numbers of student age groups to consider coming to Europe for university. Chinese universities are also going up the ranks. India has started demographic change with far fewer children being born. That leaves parts of Africa with student age groups but none with economies to pay. Nigeria is in yet another economic recession, hence the massive increase in them coming here but 40% decrease as overseas students. Scotland has the lowest births on record and same for Europe. The student bubble is burst.

#6 Posted by Parkguy61 on 18 Dec 2024 at 14:17 PM

The city centre needs home for long term council tax paying residents not student housing for a transient population.

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