Options put forward for potential regeneration of key entrance to city

Derby City Council has said that initial ideas have been put forward on how to regenerate a key entrance to the city centre.

The focus is on the ‘northern gateway’, an area bordered by Queen Street, King Street, Cathedral Road and the A601 St Alkmund’s Way, including Chapel Street, and is a link to the Cathedral Quarter.

Much of the land in the area is owned by the city council, including the building occupied by Déda, Queen’s Leisure Centre and Chapel Street multi-storey car park.

Earlier this year, councillors decided to cease operating Queen’s Leisure Centre when the new Moorways Sports Village opens in the spring.

Chapel Street car park is one of the city car parks that will be included in an upcoming review of council-owned car parking provision.

Meanwhile, the council is currently working with Deda to look at renewing its lease on a long-term basis.

The council has commissioned Lathams architects to look at options for the northern gateway area.

Those options were outlined for the first time at a meeting of the council’s finance, assets and digital cabinet earlier this week.

The first option considers more student accommodation in the area, on the site of the current Chapel Street car park and Queen’s Leisure Centre, with new public green space and squares.

The second option also focuses on the housing provision for students, while also including new housing with residents’ parking along with the new public realm.

The third option suggests temporary uses for the city council’s main areas of land, with artist studios and co-working space on the site of Chapel Street car park, and a temporary event venue on the site of Queen’s Leisure Centre.

Councillor Jonathan Smale, cabinet member for finance, assets and digital, said: “We are at the very start of looking at how we can enhance this key gateway into the city centre, which will make the most of the cultural attractions that we already have to offer and to make it a more vibrant area to live in, and walk through.”

The council now plans to hold a stakeholder event in the near future for all local interested parties.