Marble Hall joins Connect Derby portfolio

Bondholder Connect Derby has added the iconic former Rolls-Royce building on Nightingale Road, Marble Hall, to its portfolio. It will be the first venture for Connect in the Community - a new initiative which aims to attract and support social enterprises, voluntary and community groups and charities to the area, along with new start-ups and growing businesses.

Marble Hall has been vacant since Rolls-Royce decided to relocate in 2007 and is the centre-piece of Derby City Council's Osmaston Regeneration Partnership. 

Over the past 12 months the grade-two listed building – one of the city's most recognised landmarks – has been the subject of a major refurbishment to transform it into a £4 million community hub of managed workspaces.

The development will include 42 high-spec offices in sizes from 100 sq ft to 800 sq ft plus a penthouse. Businesses will benefit from superfast broadband as well as a unique package of business support and mentoring. There will also be a nursery, meeting rooms and a café.

Ann Bhatti, Business Centres Manager at Connect Derby said: “Since it was launched in 2014, Connect Derby has been hugely successful in encouraging small business growth in the city centre, but we have recognised that there are many organisations that serve their local communities from outside the city centre.”

Commercial property agents and Bondholder Rigby & Co is the letting agent for the Marble Hall scheme. Managing Director Russell Rigby said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals and businesses to work from the iconic building where office staff supported the building of the Merlin engines that powered Second World War Spitfires.”

He continued: “The Marble Hall scheme is a unique regeneration project, which when complete, will massively transform the whole of the Osmaston area. We are already receiving a high level of enquiries from potential occupiers and hope to be announcing the first occupiers shortly.”

Refurbishment work is set to be completed towards the end of the year and the building ready for occupation in early Spring 2016.