Plans drawn for new arena in Dundee

Article posted by Coliseum, March 3^rd, 2022

Image: William and Gunn Architects

Plans have been revealed for a 10,000-capacity venue near Dundee’s waterfront in Scotland (UK).

The ‘Business Insider’ stated that Wilson and Gunn Architects blueprint for the Dundee Arena would use the existing Mecca Bingo site in Nethergate, along with the temporary car park in Yeaman Shore, which is part of the Dundee Waterfront plan.

The £1billion transformation of Dundee City Waterfront, which encompasses 240 hectares of development land stretching 8 km alongside the River Tay, is a strategic, focused and forward looking 30-year project (2001-2031) that is propelling the City to international acclaim.

Plans have also been revealed for the development of a new 10,000-capacity arena in the Scottish City of Dundee. The plans have been drawn up by the Glasgow-headquartered Wilson and Gunn Architects, which in 2018 proposed a 6,375-capacity venue for the current Mecca Bingo site in the City Centre.

The ‘Business Insider’ further stated that as well as the arena, the plans include a 70-room hotel, with restaurants and bars.

The estimated cost is between £60m and £70m and could take up to five years to go through planning and complete construction.

Proposals in 2018 from the Glasgow-based architectural firm gave a 6,375 capacity, but expanding into the waterfront development would take the in line with the Hydro in Glasgow (13,000- capacity) and P&J Live in Aberdeen (15,000).

On the ground level, there would be room for 3,000 seats or 4,500 people standing. Upper levels with seating would have capacity for 5,500.

Mecca Bingo’s lease for the building is up in the next few years. The proposal was put to the Dundee City Council in December 2020 and is still waiting for the green light.

Currently, another company has planning permission for the ‘Site 2’ area that the arena now plans to expand into. Our Enterprise was given permission four years ago for a co-working space, known as Studio Dundee, with retail units, a café, offices and apartments – but no work has taken place and a condition was that work was to start within three years.

The Dundee City Council said it was aware of the Dundee Arena proposal, but “cannot comment on any commercial discussions”.

A different group is planning an e-sports arena with a capacity of around 3,500 on another waterfront site next to Slessor Gardens (Park in Dundee, Scotland).

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