Investment News | 22 July 2020
Restart, revive and renew
Over 200 attendees who joined the online 2020 Derby Property Zoommit on Tuesday 14th July, heard the Chief Executive of Derby City Council, Paul Simpson, outline the ambitions of the city’s Economic Recovery Task Force to ‘restart, revive and renew’ Derby post-Covid.
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 for enhanced sustainable transport infrastructure, business support schemes, job creation through a diversified economy and residential schemes. The strength of the city’s public-private partnership approach to recovery in Derby was highlighted.
Focusing on the future of the city centre, and coming just a few days after the announcement to build a new 3,500 seater performance venue as part of the regeneration of the Becketwell area, Paul Simpson said: “We need to encourage more people to come to Derby city centre…we need to diversify our offer – there is so much more that we can do.”
A panel drawn from architects Maber, law firm Smith Partnership, and developers St James Securities and Urban Sister, gave unique insights and perspectives on the shaping of post-Covid city centre.
Paul Morris, Development Director at St James Securities, which is working with Derby City Council on plans to invest £200m to transform the Becketwell area – the city’s regeneration priority – outlined plans for the new performance venue, public square, 200 apartments, office and hotel, said: “We see the plans for Becketwell as being the new beating heart for Derby city centre, and the starting point for the regeneration of the wider area. It will give others the confidence to pick up the mantle.”
Polls undertaken during the event showed that attendees left feeling optimistic about the future of Derby. There was recognition that, whilst the Covid pandemic has accelerated the decline of many centres, it might also have acted as a catalyst for fundamental repurposing into centres as genuine 21st century community hubs.
