A key element of Dundee’s Waterfront Place development is underway as the city’s first Active Travel Hub takes shape.
The only building on the site will promote cycling and other forms of sustainable and low carbon travel to visitors and residents of Dundee and have immediate access to the National Cycle Network that runs alongside the Tay and across to Fife.
After a tendering process it will be run by Angus Cycle Hub Community Interest Company (CIC), a not for profit social enterprise dedicated to supporting cycling and active travel.
Angus Cycle Hub project director Scott Francis said: “We are absolutely delighted to confirm we will be partnering with Dundee City Council and other stakeholders to deliver a range of community-based initiatives from the new building to continue to develop the city’s cycling and active travel renaissance.
“It’s a really exciting project for us and we hope to be able to bring the lessons learned from the projects we have been running in the Angus region to also benefit the Dundee area.”
Mark Flynn convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said: “Active travel infrastructure isn’t just about decent routes, well surfaced paths or signage, it’s also about knowing there’s somewhere to go to meet other people, get advice on routes or have your bike adjusted. It’s also good to have a destination where you can get a seat and a hot drink and a bite to eat.
“Angus Cycle Hub is a welcome addition to the city and we look forward to partnering with them to grow the opportunities for walking, cycling and scooting for everyone.”
It is intended that the hub will provide a prominent location to support the uptake of low carbon and active transport in Dundee and the wider area with facilities including bike hire, cycle parking, bike maintenance, community outreach and a kiosk for snacks.
It is hoped that the active travel hub, which has been supported by grants from Transport Scotland and European funding, will be up and running by early summer next year.
About Angus Cycle Hub CIC.
Formed in 2013 the company was officially registered and incorporated as a CIC in January 2014.
It opened the Cycle Hub in Arbroath to the general public in 2015 since when it has:.
made carbon savings via active travel, cycling and recycling totalling over 73,000kg CO2;
instigated more than 65,000km cycling through new projects;
attracted around 14,000 participants;
been named winner of the 2018 Tay Cities Social Enterprise awards, Social Impact award;
won the 2017 Cycling Scotland Silver Cycle Friendly Communities Award;
had more than 1500 hours of volunteer time donated each year; and
collected more than 25,000kg of bike waste per year through its bike recycling scheme.
About Dundee Waterfront
Dundee Waterfront is an award-winning £1 billion regeneration project that is transforming 240 acres of land along 8km of the River Tay. Dundee Waterfront is split into five distinct zones and the project has secured £750m of committed investment. Most infrastructure works have been completed and the build phase is well underway, with a growing community of businesses and residents moving into the Waterfront area. More than 150,000sq metres of ‘shovel-ready’ land is available for development. Major projects already completed include the construction of a new railway station and the V&A Dundee. Other major projects currently on going include a new marina, port developments, offices, hotels, bars, shops, cafes and residential accommodation. Around 7000 new jobs will be created, providing a wide range of new employment opportunities. Dundee is the UK’s only UNESCO City of Design. Dundee Waterfront is a partnership between Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise.
Dundee City Council
Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.
