The existing hotel is in a sorry state because of the singular lack of vision of Dundee City Council planning dept and Mike Galloway. The fact that they have put the kybosh on every decent scheme that has been put-forward over the past 15 years, then refused to allow the adjacent site to be used a carpark for the hotel, instead forming a short stay pay & display carpark as park of the abysmal lower Marketgait development is nothing short of criminal.

For a short but excellent history of Dundee's mistreatment of it's built environment you must read Lost Dundee by Charles McKean & Patricia Whatley. What is obvious to anyone who cares to look, is that this mistreatment continues to this day under the current administration,

Get your facts right Auntie Nairn. The short term car park is temporary measure, until such times as the property market improves to allow a high quality office development to take place. You didn't think the Cooncil spent all that money realigning Marketgait just to create another car park?
Another fact - every proposal for the Hotel has involved pushing the limits on what is acceptable in a Listed Building. If Mr Galloway had buckled to the applicant's demands the unique, and albeit decaying interior, would have been ripped out. Latest scheme preserves what remains of the rich interior, and doesn't require yet another permanent car park in this highly visible location.
Good development takes time to achieve. Mr Galloway's vision for the waterfront area, of which the Hotel is a part, is 30 years plus. At least he had the foresight to realise that for good things to come to those who wait, you may have to wait a long time.

As for the mistreatment of Dundee - find me a town or city in Scotland that wasn't gifted bad design in the 1960s! Mr Galloway is trying hard on a public sector budget to do more than just paper over the cracks.

Interesting. I know not much of Curious Architecture. They have a big job to do here though. I knew a scheme for this project by Dundee's foremost architectural practice, NR Studios that would have been splendid for this building, only a few years ago. Big boots to be filled. Are there no images of this new proposal published?

I'm sorry Disco Bob, I have to take issue with a number of your comments.

Firstly, temporary solutions (especially those that generate revenue for the Cooncil coffers) have a sneaky habit of becoming permanent.

Secondly, when the property market does pick up the only distinguishing feature of any 'high quality' office development constructed on the site will be the level of profit it generates for the developers.

Thirdly, vision and Mike Galloway in the same sentence - don't make me laugh!! You just have to look at the lower Marketgait development to see the complete hash made of the whole thing. And please don't start on the waterfront masterplan - amateurish to say the least.

Just because Dundee (or any other city in Scotland) has suffered mistreatment in the past, and in Dundee's case it pre-dates the 1960's by a long way, doesn't mean that we don't have a duty to do better in the future - the current masterplan just doesn't do it.

"vision and Mike Galloway in the same sentence - don't make me laugh"; wind your neck in Auntie Nairn - this is the same Mike Galloway who was played key roles in the Crown Street project and the revival of the Merchant City. Like Disco Bob says, good development and, I would add, regeneration takes 30 years plus, so don't stick the boot in after a short period... Obviously no-one is perfect and the nature of planning decisions means that not everyone is going to be happy all the time, but MG is widely recognised as being pretty damn good at his job, hence the OBE.

OBE - Other Bugger's Effort

I suspect you might be that lush Buttress Auntie, so I'll keep this short. If Galloway can pull off the V+A as a project then he'll be due the credit and the OBE.

I lived in this hotel and i have also worked there many years ago and to see from the inside just how badly it was being run and looked after broke my heart.it was pure financial again bh the people who ran it,pure greed and complete heartlessness.not to mention a legal way for these people to carry out illegal activities.

I am wondering is this hotel once called The Tay Park Hotel? Because, way back in 1979, i worked for few months in this hotel. Has the name of the hotel changed?