Community Area: Whitfield

Decentralisation Area: North East

Area and Boundary Description

Whitfield has a population of approximately 6,800 people. Its boundary is the Kellas Road to the east, Longhaugh Road to the west, the Dighty Burn to the south and the city council boundary beyond Braeview Academy. Click on the image at the top right-hand corner to view a map of the area.

Brief History of the Area

Whitfield was developed as a housing scheme during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The land had previously been used for farming and initially the area leading up to Whitfield Drive was developed for housing by the City of Dundee Corporation. This low level housing proved very popular and the corporation soon developed land north of Whitfield Drive. These properties were mainly flatted and comprised of two large multi storey blocks with three courts in each and the now infamous Skarne blocks. Whilst seen as ideal housing for slum clearances in the city centre of Dundee, the housing stock to the north of Whitfield was generally seen as poor quality and particularly in the Skarne blocks gave way to anti-social behaviour and high levels of crime.

The 1980s saw a dramatic change begin in Whitfield with the creation of the Whitfield Partnership which systematically developed the north of Whitfield. This involved the clearing of many of the Skarne blocks and the systematic creation of low level housing for sale or rent. The rented sector developments were pursued by resident lead housing associations in the form of Vale of Duntrune Housing Association and the Ormiston People's Housing Co-operative.

In later years the remaining Skarne blocks have either been re-developed and sold off, as in the example of Dunbar Park, or demolished over a period of time to make way for potential re-development sites. The present centre of Whitfield consists largely of landscaped areas with a variety of play facilities. The north of Whitfield area has seen a dramatic range of private housing developed in and around the Balumbie area which has also seen the development of a golf course to the north of Braeview Academy.

The area, because of the range of open space, has been targeted by Dundee City Council for the development of a design framework which with residents' support will identify how the area will develop over the next ten years.

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This information is provided by the Leisure and Communities Department