Wimberley site

Last July, the Evening Telegraph featured residents' concerns about the state of the site of the former Wimberley student housing (click on headline above to view).

I had raised the concerns with the University of Dundee (who at that time still owned the site - it has since sold it) and the City Council as planning authority.

In November, I attended a meeting of residents about the site - held at Menzieshill Parish Church . It had been arranged between the Chair of West End Community Council and the developer who had purchased the site (and their architects), prior to a planning application being submitted.

The architect had invited me as ward councillor and, having sought advice from the City Council, I was allowed to attend only in an "observer" capacity as a planning application could come forward and elected members of the City Council are subject to a Code of Conduct in relation to planning applications. Over 70 residents attended the meeting.

Months later, the site is still in the same, poor state, and I have been in regular touch with City Council Planning Officers regarding residents' continuing concerns about the site's condition.

Yesterday, I received the following update from a planning officer:

“I talked to the architect this week on the above subject and have been advised that the applicants are still considering their options for the site and have, to date, not instructed the submission of any formal planning application for the development of the site.”

I have therefore asked the planning officer if the developer can be asked to undertake a tidy-up of the site meantime.