Vulnerable young people in Dundee are to be given a modern new living facility in the city after elected members signed off on a £3.3million plan for its construction.
Councillors were asked to green-light the contract for the council-run facility in Southampton Road, Craigie at a meeting on Wednesday. The work will be carried out by Robertson Construction Tayside Ltd, which already carrying out several projects across the city.
Plans for the facility were approved in December by the council's planning committee - but this latest step means the project can now proceed to construction and, eventually, opening and operation. Dundee City Council says the new building replaces existing facilities and will support up to six young adults.
The new £3,368,500 building will provide en-suite bedrooms, a shared living space, dining room, activities room, kitchen and accommodation for staff across a single-storey complex. It will border onto other housing and nearby Craigiebarns Primary School Nursery, and offer 24 hour support to the youngsters inside.
Stewart Hunter, convener of the children and families committee said: “When it is completed next spring this new home will provide up to six young people with a nurturing environment. It is needed to replace one of our existing homes and will help some of the most vulnerable young people in the city to grow up in a supportive and caring setting.”
The building will serve as part of the council's commitment to "looked after children" - youngsters who are cared for by the local authority, which is often referred to as a "corporate parent". Official statistics suggest there are at least 442 looked after children in Dundee - less than two per cent of all children in Dundee, but a higher proportion than the Scottish average.
A Dundee City Council spokesperson said that the new housing would support looked-after young people to go to school, college, university and work in a "stable environment". They added that work is expected to begin on site later this month.
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