Contract to build £30m Becketwell apartments awarded

St James Securities has announced the name of the main contractor who will build a £30 million apartments complex as part of the Becketwell regeneration scheme.

GMI Construction has been appointed to construct the 259 build-to-rent apartments in the heart of the city centre on the former Debenhams site, in Victoria Street.

The development, which will feature a mix of one and two-bedroom units over 11 storeys, has been sold to Grainger plc, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord.

GMI Construction is a leading main contractor to a growing portfolio of public and private clients throughout the UK.

Oliver Quarmby, managing director at St James Securities, said: “GMI has a track record of working on award-winning projects for an extensive portfolio of developers, public sector clients and blue-chip companies across a broad range of sectors and we are delighted to have them on-board.”

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Andy Bruce, GMI’s group managing director, said: “We are looking forward to working with the full project team and seeing this development come out of the ground and at the heart of the regeneration of Becketwell.”

As well as working on the construction of the apartment block, GMI will also undertake works on a new public square that will serve as the focal point for the regeneration of Becketwell, which is being done over a number of phases.

According to Andy, it is not the first time that GMI will have worked with St James Securities.

He said: “We are thrilled that the St James Securities team has once again put its trust in GMI to deliver this high-profile apartment block within the Becketwell development.

“We have worked together several times before at sites across the UK and GMI’s relationship with SJS serves as a long-term partnership stretching back several years.

Oliver said: “We are delighted to be continuing our long-standing relationship with GMI Construction on what is a hugely significant regeneration project for the city of Derby.

“Construction is progressing well and we anticipate handing the keys over to Grainger at the start of 2023.”