Call for collaboration between Dundee and Aberdeen

DUNDEE’S development supremo today called for a new era of collaboration between the City of Discovery and Aberdeen to help ensure long term economic prosperity for both cities.

The regeneration project will have the new V&A Museum on the banks of the River Tay as its centrepiece. Picture: Contributed

Representatives of Dundee’s £1 billion waterfront development will be taking a roadshow to the Granite City next week to outline the business opportunities available in the massive regeneration scheme.

The 30-year regeneration project, the second biggest of its kind in Scotland, will have the new £45m V&A Museum on the banks of the River Tay as its centrepiece.

Speaking ahead of next week’s roadshow visit, Mike Galloway, director of city development with Dundee City Council, said: “

Aberdeen and Dundee city and regional economies are strong and growing but we need to ensure their long-term competitiveness by encouraging and enabling greater collaboration between the two economies.”

He continued: “Whilst there are differences between the local economies, there are also areas of growing convergence and mutual interest, such as renewables, financial services, tourism and technology. It is important that we work closely across the regional boundaries to help our businesses capitalise on the opportunities available, and to ensure economic growth is sustainable.”

Tim Allan, chief executive of Unicorn Properties, the largest commercial property developer in Dundee Waterfront, said: “We are seeing interesting and entrepreneurial companies now coming into the Dundee waterfront area whose bases are in the Central Belt or further afield. I would like to encourage more businesses from our neighbours in the North east to work with us so that we can grow our economies in partnership.”

Dundee Waterfront partnership

The Dundee Waterfront partnership is a joint venture between the city council and Scottish Enterprise. The project spans 240 hectares of land stretching eight kilometres along the River Tay.

The waterfront’s first investor roadshow was held last month in London and will also visit Edinburgh and Glasgow next month.

A spokesman for the waterfront project said: “With over £500million already invested, the waterfront team is forecasting that, between 2015 and 2025, the city will attract three million extra visitors and £1billion spending.

“The project aims to transform the Tayside economy and secure existing and attract new high value service sector jobs. The project will help transform the image and perception of the city, further contributing to the economic growth of the region and to Scotland as a whole.”