Derby champions residential-led regeneration at major real estate event

Derby is championing its ambitious vision for investment, growth and regeneration at a major real estate event taking place this week.

Representatives from Derby City Council, Marketing Derby and key public and private sector partners are currently in Leeds for the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF).

Regarded as the UK’s leading event in the real estate calendar, more than 16,000 of the most influential players in the sector are expected to attend over the course of the three-day event.

The Derby delegation is there to promote the city’s opportunities and development pipeline while also supporting the East Midlands Combined County Authority at its pavilion.

And as part of a packed EMCCA programme, Derby was delighted to have taken centre stage yesterday – day one of UKREiiF – with a panel discussion focused on the city’s residential-led regeneration opportunities.

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council and East Midlands deputy mayor, who chaired the session, said: “As a city, we recognise that housing-led regeneration can be a catalyst to bring new life, activity and confidence into our city.

“City centres that thrive now, and in the future, will be those that have people living in them, not just passing through them.

“That is what lies at the heart of Derby’s city living vision.”

Over 5,000 more people are due to be living in Derby city centre in the next five years and the creation of new communities at residential schemes such as Compendium Living and Lovell’s Castleward Urban Village development and Wavensmere Homes’ Friar Gate Goods Yard site are leading the way.

Castleward is a major £100 million project in the city centre which has transformed a brownfield area between the Derbion shopping centre and Derby Midland Station into a thriving, sustainable residential area. The project will deliver more than 800 new homes for Derby.

The £80 million redevelopment of the Friar Gate Goods Yard is transforming a historic, derelict 19th century railway depot into 227 low-carbon homes, commercial office spaces, a gym, café and public realm spaces.

The UKREiiF discussion was entitled ‘Quality Homes, Quality Life: How Derby’s City Living Plans Are More Than Bricks and Mortar’.

It brought together an expert panel featuring Edward Highfield, executive director of place at EMCCA, Karl Drabble, regional director (eastern), at Platform 4, Jo Nugent, executive regional director for the Midlands at Homes England and Shannon Conway, co-founder of Picture This.

In her introductory remarks, Councillor Peatfield said: “We have set out a clear ambition: to deliver 4,500 homes within our city centre.

“We are focusing on creating new neighbourhoods in and around the city centre – places where people can live, work remotely and commute easily, enjoy local services and their leisure time and feel part of the community. It is about ensuring “quality homes” and “quality life” go hand in hand.”

Speaking about Homes England’s involvement in the Castleward scheme, Jo said: “Homes England balances the Government’s housing ambition with a long-term view, and the Castleward scheme is a good example of how we have worked closely with Derby City Council and EMCCA to understand the long term plans for the scheme; it’s remained true to the original vision.

“We also launched our Strategic Place Partnership with EMCCA there in late 2025 through which we are starting to understand the scale of the opportunity in Derby and the wider Trent Arc spine.”

Derby’s city centre ‘residential revolution’ forms part of EMCCA’s wider Trent Arc strategy.

Incorporating Infinity Park Derby, which is part of the East Midlands Investment Zone, the Trent Arc has the potential to create 30,000 new homes, more than 40,000 full-time jobs and provide a £24 billion boost to the regional economy.

Edward said: “The economic opportunities of the Trent Arc are significant, and we can see the jobs potential, but need to consider where people will live.

“Urban centres can provide density, and give residents access to retail, culture and leisure amenities, to good quality family-friendly spaces and well-designed public realm.”

At the discussion, Karl spoke about the work his firm is doing around Derby Midland Station as part of the Station Quarter vision, which includes 1,500 new homes.

He said: “Derby needs a better rail gateway – it’s not the front doorstep Derby deserves.

“We need better wayfinding and public realm and to get that built in right from the start.”

Shannon’s company, Picture This, works with ION Developments, Derby City Council’s strategic development partner for the redevelopment of the Market Place, in the city centre.

She said when building new residential communities it was “important to look at what was already there and how to add value”.

She said: “Set out impact commitments, talk to local people, businesses and estate agents about market demand and what’s missing, and consider how local insight could help add ‘stop and look’ moments into design elements.”

Both Shannon and Karl also spoke about the need for long term custodianship and maintenance of residential schemes.

Councillor Peatfield said: “Derby’s plans bring together public and private sector partners with a shared objective: to shape housing-led regeneration that delivers multiple benefits.

“These are ambitious aims, and they require collaboration. Success depends on genuine partnership.

“We now want to keep driving that forward – and invite interested parties to meet with us to learn more about how they can be part of Derby’s next exciting chapter.”