The groups today unveiled plans to redevelop the Wester Gourdie site — currently owned and occupied by NCR — on the Kingsway.

The new retail, hotel and office development marks a welcome investment in the city by NCR following the axeing of so many jobs over the past two years.

The property development and investment company, Macdonald Estates, will submit an application to Dundee City Council in the coming months for a mixed use development on Myrekirk Road.

While the development is conditional on planning permission being granted, the creation of so many jobs in the city at a time of rising unemployment would be difficult for councillors to turn down.

If given the go-ahead, Macdonald Estates would acquire the land.

The proposals for this important gateway site to Dundee West would create 480 retail jobs and 170 new employment opportunities linked to the hotel and office developments.

In addition, during the development phase there would be a further 250 construction jobs.

Asda’s proposals would deliver a store with a sales area of 54,000 sq.ft — similar in size to the existing store at Milton of Craigie.

It’s an investment of £35 million by Asda in the area, meaning up to 480 new local jobs, with a mixture of full and part-time positions, enabling Asda’s colleagues to balance their work and family commitments, along with a petrol station, delivering Asda’s commit-ment to low cost fuel.

Lisa Rooke, Asda’s Property Communi-cations Manager for Scotland, said, “We are extremely excited about our plans to bring a new store to the west of Dundee.

“Our proposals represent a significant investment in the area and will generate up to 480 new full and part time jobs for local people.

“The new store will provide consumers with an improved choice on where to do their supermarket shopping.

“We are keen to work with and listen to the views of the local community as the plans progress, and we are looking forward to extending our offer to people in West Dundee.”

Jeff McCroskey, NCR’s Chief Procurement Officer, added, “NCR is pleased to be working with Asda and Macdonald Estates on this proposed development, which would include a NCR investment in a new 50,000 sq ft industrial facility.”

Niall McLean, Develop-ment Manager at Macdonald Estates said, “This is a very important mixed use development opportunity for Dundee at a time when overall investment and develop-ment opportunities are limited.

“The existing plant is on a highly visible and prominent gateway site to Dundee, and the scheme is designed in order to tie in to the ambitious future plans the city has for wider economic growth.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with NCR and Asda, and hope to continue our recent success story with Asda in the recent developments at Glenrothes — where we worked with Tullis Russell Papermills — and Stenhousemuir, which was a Joint Venture Partnership with Falkirk Council.”

A public exhibition will be held on the proposals to allow local people an opportunity to view the development plans in greater detail and give feedback on them.

A notice will be placed in the local Press in due course, advising where and when the exhibition will take place.

As with any new plans, the city council’s development quality committee will determine the application when it is submitted.

Asda’s Lisa Rooke confirmed the development would not result in the closure of the Kirkton store in Derwent Avenue. “We have no plans to close any of our stores in Dundee,” she said.

“We looked at the city as a whole and determined there is capacity in the west end. We looked at the existing stores and concluded there will be no impact on the viability of those stores.”