Progress at James Thomson House

Dundee City Council leader Councillor Mark Flynn visited a major Waterfront development on Monday (Dec 9) to see progress on the £26 million project. 

James Thomson House will provide 52,600 square feet of Grade A office accommodation when completed next year. 

Councillor Flynn was accompanied by Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure convener Councillor Steven Rome on a site tour - just over a year after a start of work ceremony was held. 

The building is being named after the late city architect James Thomson, who outlined an ambitious vision for the waterfront in the early 20th century that was never realised. 

Now, around a century later, the current 30-year Dundee Waterfront Masterplan has transformed the area with projects already delivered including V&A Dundee, the new railway station, Waterfront Place and Slessor Gardens. 

Cllr Flynn said: “This is a significant development for the city of high-quality modern office space, which will be vital to our efforts to attract and sustain jobs in the city. We expect that between 350-400 staff will be accommodated in the building when complete.

“In the last few weeks, we have seen a fresh impetus develop for Dundee, with announcements concerning the LiveHouse venue and plans by Dundee & Angus College for a new campus at the Wellgate Centre. 

“Creative thinking about how we use buildings and spaces is at the heart of our long-term vision to reinvent Dundee. James Thomson House is a signal of our intent to deliver for the future.”   

Cllr Rome added: “I am heartened by the positive response from the marketplace for James Thomson House. There is strong interest in the whole building reflecting a high quality, modern facility, and excellent location close to the railway station. 

 “Dundee needs modern office accommodation to help deliver jobs and grow our economy, making the city a better place for everyone.” 

The offices are being built on behalf of Dundee City Council by Robertson Construction Tayside and the project is being partly financed through the Scottish Government’s Growth Accelerator model.     

James Thomson House is being constructed on a site next to Agnes Husband House, which is the HQ for Social Security Scotland employing hundreds of staff. 

The new development will be completed with sustainability in mind and is set to achieve EPC ‘A’ and BREEAM ‘Excellent’ environmental accreditation ratings. 

Facilities to support active travel will feature. Two commercial units will be situated in the ground level of the six-floor building. 

A programme of community wealth building activities which is being undertaken during the construction phase is bringing further benefits to the area. This includes employability support for unemployed people, education visits and maximising opportunities for local suppliers and sub-contractors. 

Kevin Dickson, regional managing director, Robertson Construction Tayside, said: “Today has been a great opportunity to show the progress of James Thomson House and how this modern office space is taking shape. It’s an important part of Dundee’s Waterfront vision and will meet the needs of businesses looking for high-quality, sustainable workplaces. It’s also creating opportunities for local suppliers and supporting community initiatives, making it a project that benefits both the city’s economy and its people.” 

This project was awarded to Robertson Construction Tayside by Dundee City Council through the Procurement Hub – Major Projects Framework 2 (MPF2). 

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