Work Starts on New £26m Dundee Waterfront Development

Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning Joe FitzPatrick MSP and Dundee City Council leader John Alexander attended the start of work ceremony on the latest £26 million development at Dundee Waterfront.

Ryden is providing Project Management and Contract Administrator services to Dundee City Council on the new James Thomson House Grade A office building, which will offer 51,600 sq ft of accommodation when completed in 2025.

Ryden also provided Project Management and Contract Administration services to DCC on the Agnes Husband House Grade A office development, which is also on Site 6 at Dundee Waterfront and is currently the HQ for Social Security Scotland with hundreds of staff.

The building has been named after the late city architect James Thomson, who had outlined a vision for the waterfront in the early 20th century that was never realised. Now, around a century later, the current 30-year Dundee Waterfront Masterplan has transformed the area with major projects including V&A Dundee, the new railway station, Waterfront Place and Slessor Gardens.

James Thomson House will be completed with sustainability in mind and is set to achieve EPC ‘A’ and BREEAM ‘Excellent’ environmental accreditation ratings.

The offices are being built on behalf of Dundee City Council by Robertson Construction and the project is partly financed through the Scottish Government’s Growth Accelerator model.                                              

Joe FitzPatrick MSP said:

“This new office space development is the latest piece of the infrastructure programme that has transformed Dundee’s waterfront into an exciting destination for businesses and visitors, helping secure investment in new industries and attract and retain talented people from around the world.

“The Scottish Government has committed more than £60 million in Growth Accelerator funding the Central Waterfront project and this investment has delivered spectacular results, including upgrades to the railway station and a public Wi-Fi network. It proves what can be achieved with a long-term vision, community buy-in and committed leadership.

Councillor Alexander said:

“The success of Agnes Husband House has proved that there is a demand in Dundee for modern office space of this high quality. It is vital in our efforts to attract and sustain jobs in the city.

“With construction at an advanced stage on the nearby BT headquarters, we are seeing an expansion in modern accommodation that is needed if we want to deliver jobs and grow our economy, making the city a better place for everyone.

Dundee City Council awarded this project to Robertson Construction Tayside through the Procurement Hub – Major Projects Framework 2 (MPF2).