Developer scoops award for city performance venue scheme

St James Securities is celebrating after scooping a top award for its Vaillant Live scheme.

The developer, which is behind the £200 million regeneration of Becketwell, in Derby city centre, was named Developer of the Year at the East Midlands Property Dinner awards.

Organised by Insider, the awards recognise the best of the regional property sector.

Vaillant Live is Derby’s brand-new £45.8 million performance venue, which opened earlier this year.

Representing the second phase of the overall Becketwell scheme, it was delivered by a team consisting of St James Securities, Bowmer + Kirkland, Derby City Council and ASM Global.

Paul Morris, director at St James Securities, said: “The 2025 Insider East Midlands Property Dinner awards were a fantastic result for Becketwell and the city of Derby. To be recognised for our work in delivering the 3,500 capacity £45.8m Vaillant Live performance venue, by being awarded the “Developer of the Year” was a tremendous achievement.“

In addition to St James Securities being named Developer of the Year, Vaillant Live also won the rare and much coveted Special Recognition award, recognising the impact of the scheme on the city.

Paul Morris commented: “The EMPD awards have been running for 25 years and this award has only been given out three times during that period. For us to be the fourth recipient in the award’s silver anniversary year was incredibly humbling and a very proud moment indeed.

“It was testament to the strength and tenacity of the partnership that exists between St James Securities, Derby City Council and ASM Global who worked closely with the entire design and professional teams to ensure the building was not only operationally first class but that it was, architecturally, a building the city could be very proud of.

“Furthermore, St James Securities partnership with Peveril and our main contractors, Bowmer+Kirkland, ensured the building was completed on time and on budget. The positive impact the performance venue is having on city centre is already paying dividends with businesses experiencing increased footfall and trade, but most importantly this is a facility that the people of Derby have been waiting for over 10 years since the Assembly Rooms closed its doors and for that we are equally as proud”

The winners were announced last week at a ceremony in Nottingham.

Christopher Tebbs, inward investment executive at Marketing Derby, who attended the awards, said: “Marketing Derby is delighted to see this recognition for St James Securities and the stunning Vaillant Live scheme.

“It is a key element of the city centre’s regeneration strategy, making it a better place to live, work and visit.”

The project’s success at the EMPD awards comes hot on the heels of multiple nominations in the East Midlands Bricks Awards.

The awards, organised by East Midlands Business Link, showcase the outstanding work of those behind the changing landscape of the region.

The 2025 finalists were recently announced – and St James Securities is up for a glut of awards.

It is shortlisted for the Developer of the Year title, alongside Clowes Developments, while the Vaillant Live scheme is a finalist in the Commercial Development of the Year and Excellence in Design categories.

Vaillant Live is also shortlisted for Deal of the Year, alongside the build-to-rent deal between Lovell and Placefirst, which has paved the way for the fourth phase of the Castleward regeneration scheme in Derby.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Nottingham on Thursday 2 October.