‘We’ve had a great year – and there is more to come’

While some key pieces of Derby’s regeneration jigsaw have recently fallen into place, Tammy Whitaker, director of city growth at Derby City Council, told the Derby Property Summit that the work is far from over.

Firstly, she reflected on the renaissance of city centre living in Derby, citing Compendium Living’s £100 million regeneration of Castleward, which is moving into its fourth phase, as ‘another vote of confidence in residential living in our city’.

She talked about Vaillant Live (the venue for this year’s Derby Property Summit) and the revamped Derby Market Hall.

The £45.8 million Vaillant Live venue opened its doors in the spring.

The flexible 3,500-capacity venue is capable of staging anything from major shows to private events, filling a vital gap in the city centre’s offer left behind following the demise of the Assembly Rooms.

The long-awaited opening of the revamped Derby Market Hall took place in May.

Following a painstaking £35.1 million restoration, this historic building has now been reimagined as a hub for food and drink, creatives and entertainment.

In its first couple of weeks, it attracted over 85,000 visitors.

Tammy said: “The Market Hall is an amazing achievement. It is one of our most prominent and historic buildings. It just shows what you can achieve when you breathe new life into one of our older buildings.”

Another key scheme that will soon become reality this summer is the Eastern Gateway, a development which will help transform the eastern side of Derby city centre.

Delivered by Derbion and part-funded by Derby City Council, through the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, the scheme will introduce a new façade and urban garden, transforming the area opposite the bus station and the eastern entrance to the shopping centre.

The space will also feature new planting and bench seating, creating a welcoming outdoor area for visitors to enjoy.

Tammy said: “This creates a real gateway to the city centre from the bus station.”

Tammy also said that Derby City Council itself has been doing something similar by installing new planters and seating around the city centre, giving a fresh and vibrant feel to the area.

They have been made possible thanks to cash from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

Tammy also outlined the associated improvements being made to the city centre through the ongoing Our City Our River flood defence work, one of Derby’s biggest infrastructure projects.

In May, the city council awarded a £38 million contract for the next phase of major works.

This package of works, known as Derby Riverside, will provide significant flood resilience protection to many properties along the east bank of the River Derwent, from Causey Bridge to Derwent Bridge.

Also on the horizon is the multi-million-pound project to restore and reopen the Guildhall Theatre, while on the other side of the Market Place there are significant plans for the former Assembly Rooms site.

Earlier this year, a public consultation opened on a bold new vision to create a new, multi-use community building on the site, provisionally named ‘Derby MADE’.

Tammy said: “This is going to be our new flagship regeneration scheme.

“This is very much a mixed-use development, with a hotel, offices, civic and cultural space, offering a diverse mix for Derby.

“We are currently reflecting on the consultation results and refining that into plans over the summer to inform the planning applications to come.”

Away from the city centre, Tammy talked about the Derby Station Quarter, which aims to improve the area around the railway station.

She said that the aim was to create an environment around the station more befitting of the city and creating a better link with the city centre.

She said: “I think in Derby we have the ingredients for a successful city. It’s now a case of putting them together and moving forward, constantly evolving and changing.

“Are we prepared to do what is required? Absolutely we are. This is about the city council, along with others, taking the initiative and doing something different.

“I think we’ve done a great job so far. We’ve got a lot more to do. But I think as Team Derby, we’re excited about what the next few years will bring.”