More than £8.5 million has been set aside to fund the project at Blackness Road, which will provide six wheelchair accessible one-bedroom flats and 18 two-bedroom properties.

The site at 219-245 Blackness Road has lain empty since Dundee City Council demolished the 26 properties which made up a tenement block there in 2021.

Initial plans to build 24 apartments in its place were given the green light in February 2022, but delays in getting the project started forced the local authority to submit a new application that extended the time for work to begin.

This application followed the release of figures that revealed the estimated cost of the project had soared from its £4.5m original estimate.

Dundee City Council Housing Revenue Account is meeting £5,201,918.54 of the £8.527m total cost, with Scottish Government Affordable Housing Investment Grant provisionally agreeing to fund £2,326,000.00 and Council Tax income from second homes, meeting the rest.

Kevin Cordell, convener of the neighbourhood, housing and communities committee was joined by deputy convener Lynne Short and representatives of building firm, Clark Contracts at the site to see progress.

He said: “Seeing work underway on this site is the start of delivering a longstanding commitment to redevelopment, and I am delighted that work has begun.

“The homes that are being built here are contributing to meeting the need for affordable housing in the city to ensure that all residents have access to secure, energy efficient and sustainable homes suitable now and in the future.”

Cllr Short added: “Seeing contractors on site and getting on with work demonstrates delivery of the council’s ongoing commitment to our communities by providing wheelchair accessible properties.

“The resilient and empowered communities we all want in Dundee will only happen through inclusivity and with quality of life for all our citizens being a key priority, these homes help to achieve that.”

Following the traditional tenements of its neighbours, the council said design of the development is sympathetic to the surrounding area and uses enhanced foundation detailing and retaining wall structures.

In addition, it will benefit from high performing insulation and a heating system comprising hybrid boiler/air source heat pump which aligns with Dundee City Council’s commitment to providing affordable homes and supporting the wider community.

Michael Scanlan, director at Clark Contracts, said: “It is fantastic to be delivering this affordable housing development in partnership with Dundee City Council.

“We recognise the increasing demand for housing and hope the new homes will make a real difference for individuals across the Dundee area. We are looking forward to working with the local community, the council and wider design team to bring this project to life.”

The decision to raze the Blackness Road tenement block – instead of repairing the decaying staircases – proved to be controversial after it was revealed some tenants living in the blocks were not consulted.

Council officials claimed a majority of residents backed the plans but a freedom of information request subsequently revealed six private landlords who do not live there had been counted as “residents”.

Before that, former housing convener Jimmy Black, who led calls for the local authority to reconsider its decision, had argued that the cost of repairing the stairwells, which has been put at between £880,000 and £1.2m, is preferable and cheaper than spending more to demolish the tenements down and rebuild on the site.

It is hoped that work at the site will be completed in 2027, with the first residents moving in by Autumn that year.