Restart, revive and renew

Over 200 attendees at yesterday’s online Derby Property Zoommit, heard the Chief Executive of Bondholder Derby City Council, Paul Simpson, outline the ambitions of the city’s Economic Recovery Task Force to restart, revive and renew Derby post-Covid.

The event came just days after the announcement of the City Council’s plans, along with fellow Bondholder St James Securities, to deliver a new 3,500 seater performance venue in Derby’s Becketwell area.

Paul Simpson said: “We need to encourage more people to come to Derby city centre…we need to diversify our city centre offer – there is so much more that we can do.” His presentation emphasised the need to meet the health and economic challenges by delivering on the city's existing investment pipeline as well as seeking support from government for additional resources.

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Broadcast journalist Declan Curry, hosting the event for the seventh consecutive year, said: “As we move beyond the initial shock of the pandemic, the latest growth figures out today suggest that recovery might be underway but how do we minimise the harm and maximise the benefit of the crisis?”

Paul Simpson's response to this highlighted the strength of the public-private partnership approach to recovery in Derby. “The passion for the city is incredible…it's been staggering to see the reaction from the team across the city. I want to express my gratitude to those who have been part of the response to date. We have been highlighted as an exemplar across the country on how to respond.”

The Chief Executive's presentation evidenced the Task Force's commitment to push for government investment into Derby for enhanced sustainable transport infrastructure, business support schemes, job creation through a diversified economy and residential schemes with confirmation due soon on the city's success in securing a share of the £44.4m government allocation to fellow Bondholder the D2N2 Local Enterprise partnership for shovel-ready schemes.

His message to private investors looking at Derby as a home for their business and their investment was also clear – “Be confident in Derby's ability to respond…you can have confidence in us as a key delivery partner.”