Dundee SNP

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick has welcomed the decision of Dundee City Council’s Development Quality Committee to give the go-ahead for the new superstore which ASDA plans to build on the site of the former NCR factory at Wester Gourdie.

Joe FitzPatrick said: “I welcome both the Council’s unanimous decision on the application and the investment and jobs which this new development represents.

“I previously met with representatives of the company and received assurances that wherever possible, local suppliers and local businesses will be involved in the construction of the new store.

 “I particular this will be a very welcome and timely boost for the local construction industry.

“At my meeting with ASDA I was given assurances about the future of their 800 Dundee employees at the existing two ASDA stores at Milton of Craigie and Gillburn Road. 

Today’s good news means there will be 480 job opportunities – brand new jobs for local people in Dundee.”

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick has welcomed assurances from supermarket giant ASDA on its continuing commitment to its existing two stores in the city as well as the new superstore which it plans to build on the site of the former NCR factory at Wester Gourdie.

The MSP met representatives of the company to seek assurances that the company intend to retain all three stores and that the new 480 job opportunities which the new store will bring are additional to the 800 currently employed by ASDA in Dundee.

Joe FitzPatrick said: “I met with the company to seek specific assurances on the future of their Kirkton and Milton stores after local suggestions that one of them might close when the new store is built. I am delighted to say that that is not the case. The company plan the third store to complement the other two.

“I have also been given an assurance that wherever possible, local suppliers and local businesses will be involved in the construction of the new store, and the 480 job opportunities are new jobs which will be offered to local people.

“Of course, it is up to Dundee City Council to make the decision on ASDA’s application on planning grounds, but these jobs would certainly be most welcome for Dundee.

“I am also pleased that people in the local community will have the opportunity to engage in the consultation process that ASDA are undertaking and I hope that local people will take up the opportunity to do that.”

Lisa Rooke, Property Communications Manager for ASDA in Scotland, said:

“ASDA currently has no presence in western Dundee, the area which the proposed new store would serve. This is the rationale behind submitting a planning application for the former NCR factory.

“Our two existing stores in Milton and Kirkton are popular and well-performing stores, and there are no plans to close either. The proposed new store has been designed to complement the existing stores.

“In the last six years we have invested significantly in refurbishing both of our existing stores and this investment demonstrates our commitment to the city and these stores.

“Over the last 20 years, ASDA has not closed a single store in Scotland unless as part of a rebuild project of an existing store.

“The new store would create up to 480 new jobs in the area. There may be a small number of colleagues who are brought into the store during the opening phase to assist with the training of new colleagues and some colleagues may wish to transfer to the new store from our existing stores (although they would be replaced at the store that they move from), but the vast majority of these jobs would be new opportunities.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the local community to deliver the new store and the investment and employment opportunities that it would deliver.”