The £16 million project will transform the Bell Street Multi Storey Car Park (MSCP) to a low carbon sustainable transport hub.

In January, it was confirmed that Dundee City Council had been successful in its bid to the UK Government’s Levelling Up fund, securing £14m to help make the project a reality.

Now councillors have approved a £1.4m contract for pre-construction work on the site.

McLaughlin and Harvey will be appointed to work with the council’s in-house designers to develop the overall design of the hub.

Committee members also heard that the construction phase of the project is expected to start in spring next year and will take up to two years to complete.

When completed, the project will see 350 electric vehicle charging points, car share spaces, and e-bike hire stands installed at the site.

The green hub and spokes project is designed to:

• Improve access and connectivity to employment, education, health and leisure facilities in the city for active travel;
• Reduce carbon emissions by increasing the number of low carbon journey types;
• Encourage a move from private car to active travel;
• Lessen congestion by encouraging people to use alternatives to a car;
• Increase provision of EV charging infrastructure;
• Greater EV uptake to improve air quality and cut carbon emissions; and
• Minimise deliveries within the city centre by motorised vehicles, reducing congestion and increasing convenience for businesses.

It will also see significant physical upgrades to the existing Bell Street MSCP to deliver an attractive and fit-for-purpose facility which will form a visual representation of the city’s commitment to changing transport in Dundee.

Mark Flynn, convener of the city development committee, said: “This is an important part of our push for greater access to sustainable active travel options for more people in communities north of the city centre.

“When complete, the green hub project will make a significant contribution towards our goal of creating a greener city where people feel empowered and safe, and where we are tackling climate change to reach our target of net zero emissions by 2045.”