A committee will hear that £4.5m of enabling works are already being undertaken at the Bell Street multi-storey car park - at the start of the journey to transform it into a Green Transport Hub. 

Councillors will today be asked to accept a £11,178,696 tender from contractors McLaughlin & Harvey Construction Ltd for the main contract works at phase of the project. 

Convener of Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure Cllr Steven Rome said: “This project represents an ambitious redevelopment of the car park into a pioneering green transport hub which is designed to help change people’s travel habits for the future. 

“It will make a significant contribution towards our goal of creating a greener city made up of strong communities where people feel empowered and safe, and where we are tackling climate change to reach our target of net zero emissions by 2045. 

“The hub will accommodate infrastructure to provide people with access to sustainable transport options that improve connectivity and make the city centre greener, safer, and a more attractive place to live, work and visit.”            

The main works would include installation of electrical vehicle chargers supported by a solar panel array on the roof with a battery storage system.  

There would be a full mechanical and electrical upgrade, as well as the installation of new feature cladding and construction of a ground floor cycle storage and bike reuse centre. 

The area surrounding the car park will include enhanced landscaping with active travel routes designed with consideration of future active travel connections and development.   

The Green Transport Hub & Spokes initiative was allocated £14.4m from the previous UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund. 

Councillors will hear that £1.6m for the main works would come from Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund. 

The project has been procured through the SCAPE Framework.