Derby City Lab welcomes its 50,000th visitor

Derby City Lab has celebrated a momentous landmark after welcoming its 50,000th visitor.

The lab’s 50,000th visitor was Pete Winters from Great British Railways, the new body being established by the Government to oversee the UK’s railways, which will be headquartered in Derby.

Pete, who is senior commercial change sponsor at GBR, was welcomed to the lab by Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council.

He said: “We’re thrilled to be the 50,000th visitor to the award-winning Derby City Lab.

“We first visited the lab earlier this year to familiarise ourselves with Derby’s regeneration story, so it’s great to mark this milestone on another visit.”

The aim of the lab, which is situated in Derby City Council’s Derby Market Hall, is to engage the public in the city’s future – informing them of the latest developments in the city centre – and gathering their feedback, thoughts and ideas on how Derby can be made better.

The latest edition of the lab is its third iteration. The first opened in St James’s Street in 2023 and the following year it moved to the Derbion shopping centre, where visitor numbers hit the 20,000 mark.

However, since opening at the Market Hall on 24 May, 30,000 more visitors have come through its doors to bring the total number of visitors to 50,000.

Adam Rodgers, inward investment executive at Marketing Derby and Derby City Lab lead, said: “Since the lab relocated to Derby Market Hall in May it has hit the floor running.

“To have attracted 30,000 visitors in just over six months is incredible – and just proves that there are a lot of people out there who really care about Derby and its future.

“As well as welcoming the public, the lab has hosted visits from several other towns and cities, who are keen to understand how the lab model can help shape their own place narrative and engage with a public audience.

“We hope all 50,000 visitors have gone away from the lab feeling better informed and inspired about Derby’s ongoing regeneration story.”

The first edition of the lab opened in St James’s Street in 2023, with the backing of a private/public partnership involving Marketing Derby, Derby City Council, the University of Derby, Lathams and Clowes Developments.

That partnership was recognised that year with the Public/Private Partnership Award at the prestigious EG Awards, beating off entries from London, Liverpool and Manchester.

Then, in March last year, with the support of Derbion, the lab moved to its most recent location, where people continued to flock through its doors.

The current lab in the Market Hall features the Derby City Model – a detailed 3D model of Derby city centre, which aims to help visitors visualise the city’s ongoing regeneration story.

It also features a touch screen kiosk, which features an interactive development pipeline.

And it is home to the City Living Room, the 300 years of innovation timeline and the University of Derby’s DUST showcase.

For more information about the Derby City Lab and to plan your visit click here.