4,500-home regeneration scheme set to move forward

Plans for a major regeneration project on the south side of Derby, creating thousands of new homes and jobs, could be set to move forward.

Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council, along with South Derbyshire District Council, are working together to deliver the South Derby Growth Zone, which includes Infinity Park Derby and Infinity Garden Village.

The authorities have already received an ‘in principle’ of £49.6 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, which is reliant on a full business case being submitted.

When it meets next week, the city council’s cabinet will decide whether to approve the transfer of £500,000 of Homes England Garden Villages funding to the county council to finalise the business case.

Councillor Steve Hassall, the city council’s cabinet member for regeneration, decarbonisation, strategic planning and transport, said: “The South Derby Growth Zone is a big opportunity to deliver high quality housing and jobs for Derby, while also providing a brand-new transport link in the south of the city.

“Entering into these collaborative agreements demonstrates our commitment to the project and to the city.”

The South Derby Growth Zone scheme promises to bring major benefits to Derby.

It will bring up to 4,500 new homes, 3.4 million sq ft of employment floor space, and a further 5,000 jobs for the city.

The new homes would form the new Infinity Garden Village, one of 14 new Garden villages announced by the Government in 2017 as a response to meeting local housing needs, especially for first-time buyers.

The plans include a new junction and link road off the A50 – and the county council is set to be granted highways powers within Derby’s boundaries to allow it to progress works on a junction, which will unlock maximum benefit from the scheme.

Without the new junction, it is expected that only 280 of the possible 4,500 new homes would be possible.

Councillor Hassall said: “By allowing the transfer of powers and funds to our colleagues at Derbyshire County Council, we can ensure good progress continues to be made towards the completion of the business case and delivery of the new road junction.”