2025 is the year many of Derby’s long-awaited projects are scheduled to come to fruition. Work has been under way on some of them for a large number of years and it will come as a relief to those involved in their construction and also the people of Derby when they finally open their doors for the first time.
Top of the eagerly-anticipated list must be the city’s £45.8 million new performance venue in Becketwell, quickly followed by the refurbished Market Hall. Don’t forget there will also be a complete new look for the approach to East Street from the Morledge end of the pedestrian thoroughfare.
Not all of the projects are being run by Derby City Council, but the authority is working in partnership with a number of companies on the regeneration of the city. A recently unveiled masterplan for the area around the city’s railway station could be a while coming into being but for now the public has a chance to comment on its proposals until January 13, 2025.
None of the main projects were finished during 2024, although work started on others including the Guildhall Theatre after five years of closure and the rest moved a step nearer to completion. However, the much-publicised demolition of the city’s landmark Assembly Rooms building failed to start and was put back after planning difficulties.
Businesses in the city centre are also anxiously waiting to see if the latest phase of the Our City Our River project – which would protect the Derwent Street, Exeter Street, Meadow Road, Phoenix Street and Darwin Place areas and scheduled to start in 2024 – will finally commence in 2025. In early December, Derby City Council said: “We expect to bring a report to the Council’s cabinet early in 2025 with a more detailed update on timescales.”
Derby Market Place and Assembly Rooms
The Assembly Rooms building has been unused for ten years
(Image: Derby Telegraph)
On the 10th anniversary in March of the fire that closed Derby’s Assembly Rooms, the city council announced the nine-month demolition of the 47-year-old building would begin in autumn 2024 and make way for a new multi-million pound cultural, commercial and creative public space in its place.
An artist’s impression of the proposed project, which included a multi-storey office and meeting space, as well as restaurant, hotel and commercial spaces was produced, but because it was never turned into a planning application, approved and costed as per the conditions of the demolition of the Assembly Rooms (ie. that a plan needed to be in place for it to go-ahead) a halt has come to the project to transform the Market Place.
The city council tried to remove the condition but its own scrutiny board expressed concerns about how long the Market Place could stand empty following the Assembly Rooms demolition – the reason the condition had been placed on the planning consent originally – and the application to remove the condition was withdrawn, pending a more detailed plan being drawn up.
So the demolition of the Brutalist-style building has been delayed and the council is hoping that once it is knocked down, which could start later in 2025, construction of the new site will take place consecutively. The city council has a pre-development agreement with Vinci UK Developments Ltd and ION Developments for this project.
Market Place redevelopment could therefore well be stymied for 2025. It’s possible that drawing up plans and getting permission could take at least six months but council leader Councillor Nadine Peatfield said that the time would be spent assessing the cultural situation in the city, which had changed since the demolition had been announced in March.
She said: “It’s disappointing but it’s another ripple in the problematic space that is the Assembly Rooms.”
The Assembly Rooms was closed and never reopened after a fire in the plant room on top of the adjacent car park on March 14, 2014. Since then it has been the subject of various plans including refurbishment and demolition and redevelopment.
Market Hall and Osnabruck Square transformation
A view of the new stalls which are ranged around the outside of a large central space
(Image: Derby Telegraph)
It’s fair to say that the £35 million Market Hall transformation – which has been under way since 2017 – has entered the final straight with the building due to reopen in spring 2025.
Phase one of the refurbishment of the Grade II-listed building, which was opened in 1866, included repairing the roof and phase two, which is currently ongoing, includes refurbishing the interior and redesigning Osnabruck Square as a leisure area.
This work includes reinstating the original two entrances and installing a grand central staircase. The old market stalls have been removed to reveal a huge open-plan space on the ground floor.
The hunt is also currently on to sign up 42 potential traders for the refurbished market. The transformed space will offer a mix of traditional and themed stalls, including quality fresh produce; make and trade stalls and creative space; a cosmopolitan food court and bars and events and pop-up activities.
Work is currently continuing to create the new market stalls and the grand central staircase, as well as the exterior of the building which has entrances from both Osnabruck Square and Market Place. A new frontage will incorporate full-length windows overlooking Osnabruck Square to open up the area inside and outside the building.
One of the most recent events to take place was the “reburial” of two previously-discovered time capsules, one from 1864 when the foundation stone was laid, and the other from 1938, when extensive refurbishment took place. A third 2024 time capsule has now been added to these to mark the current project.
Eastern Gateway
This is the view in the daytime which shows the silver-coloured wall, which because of its construction will be constantly changing and shimmering according to the light and wind
(Image: 3D Reid)
Plans for the Morledge end of East Street have changed over the past couple of years but in July 2023 the go-ahead was given for the £15 million project and finally in October work began with the demolition of the former Castle and Falcon pub in East Street. The project is being driven by the owners of Derbion. Derby City Council was awarded £15 million from the previous Government’s Future High Streets Fund to support the development of the city centre – £3 million has been allocated to the Eastern Gateway, with Derbion contributing a further £1 million.
The two-storey entrance to the former Eagle Market in East Street forms part of the demolition and in its place and that of the pub will be an urban garden and square on the corner of East Street.
The plan also includes the installation of a “dynamic” kinetic wall and digital screen to create an eye-catching frontage opposite the city’s bus station. The kinetic wall is an articulated cladding system, which is made up of freely-moving stainless steel tiles suspended from open mesh grating panels. Gusts of wind and movement cause the metal rectangles to ripple in an ever-changing display, reflecting the light.
The existing stairs from the Morledge will be retained and an additional set of steps is proposed on the other side of the square. As well as extensive landscaping, featuring silver birch trees, there will be stone seating terraces with planting to soften the walls.
And the good news is that it is scheduled to be completed “during the first half of 2025”, according to a Derbion spokesman.
Guildhall Theatre
The entrance to the Guildhall Theatre
(Image: Derbyshire Live)
Work has started using £10 million Government money to bring the Grade II-listed Market Place building back into use after five years closed, following a collapse of part of the ornate ceiling. Further funding has been allocated from Derby City Council’s capital budget, and opportunities for match funding are being explored to carry out the total £25 million restoration work.
Restoration plans for the Guildhall Theatre include a new front-of-house experience with enhanced foyer, as well as a new ground floor café and box office opening onto the Market Place. The auditorium will also be remodelled to increase the venue’s seating capacity to around 280.
Back-of-house facilities will also be renovated to make the venue more accessible. A new courtyard will also be included in the works, adjacent to Derby’s historic Market Hall, which is due to re-open in the spring of 2025 following major renovations. It is unlikely that the Guildhall Theatre will reopen before Christmas 2027.
Becketwell Performance Venue
The huge glass curtain wall at the front of the Becketwell Live arena
(Image: Staff)
.Jobs have been advertised and the final seats have gone as Derby’s new entertainment centre nears completion after the main contractors, Heage-based Bowmer + Kirkland, took over the site in June 2023. By last December, the steel frame and concrete tiers for seating were already complete.
During 2024, most of the mechanical and electrical systems have been installed together with an acoustic ceiling and exterior cladding. It is scheduled for a “soft launch” in spring to make sure all the systems are in order and working, ahead of a full-on launch and major artist performance later in the year.
Built on the site of the former Pink Coconut nightclub, Pennine Hotel, Laurie House and Padley House, the new Becketwell venue offers a much larger and more adaptable space than anything previously available in the city centre, which will have a capacity of 3,500 in the main auditorium.
As well as the main auditorium, there are a series of flexible spaces for smaller entertainment events or conferences. There is a green room and dressing rooms for artists, a large kitchen and six bars – three on each of the ground-floor and first-floor concourses.
Outside at the rear of the building, backing onto Becket Street, is a large covered area for receiving goods and stage equipment, with a large area for lorries to turn and for tour buses to park.
The performance venue is the second phase of the £200 million development of the Becketwell site, which includes the formerly derelict Duckworth Square. Earlier in 2023, phase one was officially completed with the opening of Springwell Square, a green, seated garden area adjacent to the newly completed Condor building, the latter of which contains 259 rental apartments.
Once open, the venue is set to host more than 200 cultural and commercial events each year and attract an additional 250,000 visitors to Derby. It is also expected to create over 200 new local jobs, generate more than £10 million per year for the area, diversify the economy and increase levels of investment in surrounding areas of the city centre.
Future planned phases of the Becketwell scheme include potential for a hotel and purpose-built student accommodation.
University of Derby
An artist’s impression of how the new University of Derby business school will look on the corner of Agard Street and Ford Street
(Image: University of Derby)
Last year, the University of Derby’s business school looked as if it might open in 2024 but it is now scheduled to be operational early in 2025. Situated in Agard Street, the business school is projected to be the study base for more than 6,000 students by 2030.
Planned to be net zero carbon in both its construction process and operational management, it will be the first net zero business school outside of London and forms part of the university’s wider promise to sustainably support entrepreneurial growth and business connectivity in Derby.
The seven-storey building will also be a focal point for Derby’s business community, providing a place where students and expert academics can network with, learn from, and inspire local business leaders and entrepreneurs. Start-ups and small businesses will be able to access the expertise and facilities on their doorstep.
The university is also hosting a new sustainable travel hub at the University of Derby’s Kedleston Road site. Thanks to a partnership between Derby City Council and the university, students and staff will soon be able to take full advantage of electric vehicle (EV) charge points, real time information (RTI) travel screens and secure cycle parking.
Castleward
Castleward ground breaking with from left: Richard Bailey, Homes England; Bruce Lister, Compendium Living; Tim Mansell, Lovell; and Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Derby City Council
(Image: DCC)
Work started on phase four of the Castleward development in August 2024. Derby City Council has transferred the final piece of land ready for work to start. The former Derbyshire County Transport site was the last piece required to allow the next stage of works to begin, following the acquisition of the former Tarmac site and properties on Canal Street.
Regeneration specialist Compendium Living, Derby City Council, housing developer Lovell Partnerships and Homes England will deliver 112 new homes. Situated between the Derbion shopping centre and Derby Midland Station, Castleward will eventually provide around 700 new homes.
Phase 4 was will be a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom houses, and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Work on phase four is expected to be completed in early 2027.
Friar Gate Goods Yard
This is an aerial view of how the site will look when completed
(Image: Wavensmere Homes)
Years of neglect and concern about one of Derby’s most significant landmark buildings came to an end in October after work started on restoring the 19th century Grade II-listed bonded warehouse on the Friar Gate Goods Yard site in the city centre. The £75 million project will also see another listed building restored on the site – the engine house – and the building of 276 new homes.
Ground works commenced in November and the first phase will incorporate the formation of a new spine road through the site and remediation works to the two listed buildings. Simultaneously, construction of the first residential phase will take place.
This comprises of 63 terraced houses, which will be available for occupation before the end of 2026. The full redevelopment, restoration and construction programme is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2028 – but you can reserve a home in 2025. There will also be a four-storey apartment building containing 49 apartments.
The restoration of the bonded warehouse and engine house will see them turned into flexible offices, health and fitness space, a restaurant/café, together with a regional sales centre for Birmingham-headquartered Wavensmere Homes.
Extensive new areas of open space, including play areas and pocket parks will also be created, in addition to the retention of the tree buffer, to enhance the biodiversity of the site.
The Friar Gate Goods Yard was intended as the main goods depot for the Great Northern Railway line, to handle coal, livestock, timber, and metals. Designed in 1870, and entering operation in 1878, the bonded warehouse building contained extensive warehouse space and offices. The engine house was also built for the railway by Kirk & Randall of Sleaford and supplied power to the hydraulic lifts and capstans at the bonded warehouse.
The site first became derelict in 1967, and over time became overgrown and fell into a poor state of repair. An arson attack took place at the goods yard in 2020, which exposed the whole inner iron structure of the two historic buildings.
Hippodrome
The former Derby Hippodrome building on Green Lane, Derby
(Image: Derbyshire Live)
It’s been another quiet year for the former Hippodrome Theatre in Green Lane. In January, it was announced plans for its restoration would move forward. Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust (DHBT) is working in partnership with the Derby Hippodrome Restoration Trust to restore the Grade II listed venue, which was built in 1914. The plans include turning it into an alternative music venue.
It has been unused since 2007 and damage and arson have left the building in a poor state but Derek Latham, DHBT chair, said: “Work has been continuing behind the scenes to develop the proposal to use it as an alternative music venue.”
Mr Latham said specialist consultant structural engineers had undertaken a condition survey of the structure, with a view to preparing an Urgent Works Notice. These notices relate to any urgent measures which become necessary during the progress of works in order to remove any risk of accident or failure.
He added: “After considerable delays, the engineers were able to access the property in September 2023 to survey the building and prepare a list of the urgent works. Historic England continues to work with Derby City Council to move this process forward, which could ultimately lead to the compulsory purchase of the building.”
Built as a 2,300-seat variety theatre, the Derby Hippodrome is Grade-II listed and is high on the Theatres Trust’s ‘theatres at risk’ list. Over the years when the venue was at its peak, many stars appeared there including George Formby, Morecambe and Wise, Frankie Howerd and also Sir Sean Connery, in his pre-James Bond days.
It later became a bingo hall, and then closed, and was sold to businessman Christopher Anthony for £375,000 in 2007. He then notified the council that he planned to knock it down but permission for this was refused.
Royal Derby Hospital car park
Temporary changes to car parking will mean less of it on site
(Image: Royal Derby Hospital)
Work began in October to construct an 800 space five-storey car park, which eventually will provide 500 extra parking spaces at Royal Derby Hospital. The new car park is being built on the site of current car park six and will include 91 spaces for Blue Badge holders and also spaces equipped with electric charging points.
Big changes have been made to parking on the site in the meantime, including the introduction of a park and ride scheme for staff and patients.
The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) had initially planned to start construction in the spring 2024 and see the car park completed by April 2025. But now it is not expected to be finished before summer 2025.
Full Street
How the new nine storey building will look in Derby city centre
(Image: Wavensmere Homes/Wilson Bowden Developments)
Councillors approved plans for a £30 million nine-storey tower of nearly 200 apartments and cafe in Full Street in October. The site is opposite Derby Cathedral, the Silk Mill, the Assembly Rooms and the River Derwent.
The council had been warned by UNESCO not to approve the scheme in its current form but the authority approved the plans, which have been tweaked during the planning process, by a vote of seven votes for, two against and two abstaining. UNESCO, along with Derby Cathedral bosses themselves, had concerns over the impact of the planned nine-storey tower on the historic place of worship and the wider Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
The building will have 36 studio apartments, 133 one-bed apartments, 17 two-bed apartments and nine “duplexes”, on the former site of a police station, demolished in 2013. It is uncertain when work will begin and finish on the project.