Developing District Strategies for a More Climate‑Resilient City

Over the next 12 to 18 months, Water Resilient Dundee (WRD) will progress a suite of District Strategies that build toward a comprehensive, city‑wide approach to managing rainwater, reducing flood risk, and supporting sustainable growth across Dundee. These District Strategies will sit under the wider City‑Wide Drainage and Stormwater Strategy, which aims to help Dundee adapt to a changing climate while creating greener, healthier, and more connected neighbourhoods.

Why District Strategies?

Dundee is already experiencing the impacts of more intense rainfall and urban flooding. District‑level strategies allow WRD to look closely at the unique landscape, drainage systems, development pressures, and community needs of each area. This ensures that solutions are locally appropriate, deliver multiple benefits, and contribute to a consistent, resilient network across the city.

What’s Planned: Focus Areas for 2026–2027

City Centre District Strategy

The City Centre faces combined pressures from dense development, high footfall, and historic drainage infrastructure. The City Centre is strongly linked to the adjacent Districts of the Dens and Scourin’ Burns. As such these Districts will be included with the City Centre to maximise the benefits to the City Centre. The strategy will:

• Develop new blue‑green and grey conveyance routes to safely move rainfall to the River Tay
• Reduce basement sewer flood risk and controlled spills
• Support regeneration projects such as the Strategic Investment Plan, Active Freeways, and Eastern Quarter Redevelopment.

The City Centre plan will demonstrate how stormwater management can contribute not just to flood resilience but also to improved public spaces, biodiversity, and social wellbeing.

Dens District Strategy

The Dens District, which follows the natural course of the Dens Burn, plays a critical role in managing flows from the northern and eastern slope of Dundee Law. Planned work will:

• Develop a new conveyance route following the historic burn corridor toward Camperdown Dock and the Tay
• Remove surface water from the combined sewer system
• Identify opportunities for retrofit surface water measures integrated with neighbourhood greenspaces.

This approach reduces flood risk while opening opportunities for environmental enhancement and community‑benefit projects.

Scourin’ Burn Strategy

Although early in its development, the Scourin’ Burn work is emerging as part of the wider package of district‑scale strategies. It will focus on:

• Understanding the hydrology and urban connections of the Scourin’ Burn corridor
• Co‑ordinating data collection, drainage mapping, and early concept development
• Working in parallel with other northern‑corridor districts to ensure system‑wide improvements.

This strategy is expected to develop alongside Dens and Gelly Burn as part of a connected northern drainage framework.

Camperdown District Strategy

The Camperdown area forms a major upper‑catchment district within the Lochee Burn watershed. Upcoming strategy work will:

• Develop a new strategic conveyance route to divert flow from the Kingsway West combined sewer
• Improve drainage resilience across Dryburgh, Dunsinane Industrial Estate, and the wider Camperdown area
• Support future development while reducing flood risk and spills to the water environment\

This work forms a critical upstream component of the overall drainage network for the city.

Gelly Burn District Strategy

The Gelly Burn strategy will progress in parallel with the Dens and Camperdown districts. Over the next 12–18 months, the team will focus on:

• Detailed data collection (including flow and asset surveys)
• Mapping opportunities to relieve pressure on combined sewer systems
• Shaping a long‑term plan that supports sustainable development\

How These Fit into the City‑Wide Strategy

All district strategies connect directly into Dundee’s City‑Wide Drainage Strategy, which provides:

• A shared model of current and future flood risk
• A consistent framework for developing blue‑green corridors
• A co‑ordinated approach between Scottish Water, Dundee City Council, and community partners.

This city‑wide approach ensures that each district contributes to a strong, integrated stormwater network, helping Dundee adapt to climate change while creating greener, safer, and more vibrant places to live and work.

What This Means for Dundee’s Communities

As these plans develop, residents and stakeholders can expect:

• Reduced flooding and sewer overflow events
• Improved greenspaces, paths, and waterways
• New habitats and cleaner urban environments
• Better support for development and regeneration projects\

Community engagement will be central as WRD develops the detailed district strategies. Local insights will help shape the opportunities and design solutions in each area.