Derby sites made ‘priority areas’ for housing and regeneration

East Midlands Combined County Authority has agreed the first six priority areas where it aims to unlock thousands of new homes – including sites in Derby.

EMCCA and Homes England are working with councils and partners to bring forward priority housing and regeneration schemes in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Among the six immediate priorities are Derby city centre and Station Quarter; and Infinity Garden Village and the South Derbyshire Growth Zone.

The work supports Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward’s ambition to help deliver more than 100,000 new homes over the next decade, while creating better-connected, more sustainable places where people can live, work and invest.

She said: “Across the East Midlands, we need more good-quality homes and better places where people can live, work and invest.

“We have an ambition to support more than 100,000 new homes over the next decade, but we know that bringing forward major sites is not always straightforward. Planning, land, infrastructure and funding can all hold schemes back.

“That is why this partnership with Homes England and councils across the region matters. We are focusing our efforts on the places where we can help remove those barriers and get projects moving.”

Through a Strategic Place Partnership, EMCCA and Homes England are focusing support on major sites where action on land, funding, planning and infrastructure could help schemes move forward faster.

Work is under way with Derby City Council, Network Rail and Platform 4 on a masterplan for Derby Station and improvements to the surrounding public realm.

EMCCA has also received early interest in Brownfield Housing Fund support for city centre sites.

In terms of Infinity Garden Village and South Derbyshire Growth Zone, EMCCA said that partners are working to speed up delivery at this strategic growth location, with enabling infrastructure being brought forward and a start on site currently scheduled for spring 2027.

Mayor Claire added: “These six priority areas show the scale and variety of the opportunity in front of us – from town and city centre regeneration to major new communities.

“With the powers and investment that come with devolution, we have a real opportunity to create more places that people are proud to call home.”