Plans revealed for new ‘cultural heart’ in Derby

Derby City Council has announced how it plans to significantly remodel the Market Place to create a new cultural heart for the city.

It has revealed it is working with partners to develop a strategy to rebuild a vibrant city centre, as part of the city’s coronavirus recovery plans – devised to ensure that Derby can ‘build back better’ after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The strategy will reimagine the city centre, celebrating Derby’s strengths, and recognising gaps in its offer, as well as benchmarking against other cities to identify opportunities for development, before considering how the space can be best used.

Chief executive Paul Simpson said that the new strategy would bring focus to the city’s landmark Market Place, creating a key focal point for the city.

He said: “In terms of its heritage value, location, purpose and potential functionality, the Market Place should be no less than the jewel in Derby city centre’s crown,

“We’re working to understand how – along with partners – we can make the most of this space and create a thriving cultural heart for the city, that has huge impact for our local economy.”

The cultural heart strategy will encompass existing and planned cultural facilities, including Derby Museums’ new Museum of Making, the transformed Market Hall, and the new performance venue at the £200 million Becketwell regeneration scheme, which is being delivered by St James Securities.

Paul said: “Local businesses and venues will also be key to this – we have fantastic cultural organisations, businesses and venues, all of whom will be key to this plan.

“Organisations like QUAD, Artcore and Déda bring creativity and excitement into the city – and we need to harness that and ensure all cultural partners are playing an active role in developing these ideas with us.”

Options for the remodelled space, which will examine mixed use opportunities in the area, will include the former Assembly Rooms venue, looking at the site in the wider context of the area.

Proposals to demolish the building are set to be considered at a meeting of the city’s council’s planning committee later today.

David Fletcher, the city council’s director of city development and growth, said: “We know that there is much more we can do to recognise, celebrate and communicate our cultural assets.

“In providing and connecting spaces and support for cultural opportunities, the city and its communities can work together toward our ambition that by 2030, culture will play a major part in making Derby a great place to work, live, study and visit.”