The number of new businesses starting up in Dundee city centre is continuing to grow, it has been revealed.
The news has been welcomed by a leading city businessman as a sign that the city is on the up.
And he said he hopes the situation will get even better with other retailers being encouraged to come to Dundee.
Tim Allan, president of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, said the latest figures showed there was a changing pattern of behaviour locally.
He said: “New businesses are opening up because of demand and hopefully that is a positive sign that things in Dundee are improving.”
He was commenting on a report that will go before city councillors next week, which declares the number of new business start-ups in Dundee city centre is continuing to grow.
The report to the city development committee by the council’s director of development, Mike Galloway, revealed that more than 20 new bars, restaurants and cafes opened in Dundee in the past year, among them the fast food chain Five Guys.
However, Mr Galloway said that while this was positive news, some major retailers had closed their doors — adding he was concerned this could lead to an over-provision of certain types of businesses in the city centre.
He added: “The opening of the bars and cafes is encouraging.
“But with the loss of stores such as Gap, Monsoon and the Early Learning Centre, we need to ensure the retail offering is not just centred on food and drink.”
He added that Dundee had a high proportion of shops that had remained vacant for more than three years.
These include Sutherlands on High Street and Hynds Amusement Arcade in Reform Street. The report comes as new data shows the number of empty shops across Scotland has fallen in the past year.