St Leonard Park Regeneration
A Better Way of Managing Storm Water for St Mary’s
Scottish Water, NatureScot and SEPA are working with Dundee City Council to develop an exciting and innovative project to improve the way storm water is managed and reduce flood risk in the St Mary’s area of Dundee.
We want to engage the community in shaping plans which could bring significant benefits for the area by transforming a landscape corridor running from St Leonards and St Fergus Church on Macalpine Road to Baldragon Academy on Harestane Road, including St Leonard Park as well as part of Balgowan Avenue Park.
St Leonard Park - present and future?
The park as it is today, regularly affected by flooding, and some early ideas for the future
What We Are Doing
We want to engage the local community about an exciting opportunity to reduce the risk of flooding locally, while also making wider positive changes to the park. The reopening of the historic Back Burn, which was culverted over 50 years ago, could restore a natural watercourse with potential to include a variety of other features. We also want to explore opportunities to create a new pathway system that will improve connections and support more walking and cycling; a more attractive planting structure with new spaces, areas for growing and increased wildlife; and areas for active use such as outdoor gyms or improved play opportunities.
Why We Are Doing This
The aim is to reduce flood risk, and at the same time improve these green spaces for the benefit of everyone. They could offer much more and provide multiple benefits for recreation, wildlife, active travel and activities for the people who live and work in and around St Mary's.
Latest
A feasibility study and outline design for the first phase of the St Leonard Park sustainable drainage project was completed in June 2022 and is available to view (see below), following extensive consultation with landscape architects, engineers and the local community. The work was commissioned by a partnership of organisations including Scottish Water, Dundee City Council, and NatureScot.Work is now on-going on the first phase of the concept design for the scheme's drainage and active travel elements, and we are currently engaging with the community across the Strathmartine Ward to ensure the project delivers on connecting communities. We are working towards detailed design and hope to start on site in 2027.
More information is available on the Water Resilient Dundee website, and you can also share your views and learn more at the Strathmartine Connections storymap website.
