Business leaders back transformational city centre schemes

Business leaders have expressed their support for a pair of schemes lodged with Derby City Council, which they believe will boost Derby city centre.

In recent weeks, separate planning applications have been submitted to transform the former Bennetts building, in Iron Gate, into a mixed-use scheme – and to redevelop sites around the Derbion shopping centre.

Following consultation with members of Derby Economic Development Advisory Committee (DEDAC), Marketing Derby has now written and submitted letters to the city council backing both applications.

The Derbion ‘master plan’ involves redeveloping sites in Bradshaw Way and the Eagle Quarter, to create hundreds of new homes, commercial and public space.

In his letter of support, John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, writes: “The Bradshaw Way development complements an area already undergoing significant regeneration in Castleward and Nightingale Quarter and supplements the requirement for more residential accommodation within the city limits.

“The Eagle Quarter development complements the current plans to regenerate an important gateway into the city centre from Derby Bus Station – the Eastern Gateway.

“It also supplements the housing demand and improves the quality of the area.

“The proposed developments improve two key gateways into the city, producing a modernised and regenerated welcome to the city centre with an improved building aesthetic and streetscape.

“However, in order to be fully cohesive with the city’s main core objectives, we would actively encourage the final designs to include more green and blue, in order to fit with the City’s Vision of Urban Cooling.”

The plans for the former Bennetts department store building, led by Manston Investments, involve retail, restaurant, offices, and the formation of eight residential units.

Mr Forkin writes: “Marketing Derby, on behalf of DEDAC, supports the application, as it regenerates a building of significant local interest, located on an important street in the historic Cathedral Quarter.

“Iron Gate won Best High Street of the Year in 2016 but has seen a steady decline in occupants since then.

“Covid has accelerated this decline. It’s important to allow regeneration to a building such as this to prevent further decline in the area.

“The former Bennetts on Iron Gate is of true, local historic importance, and evokes an emotional memory for many of the people of Derby.

“Therefore, it is imperative that the regeneration is sympathetic in its design and end use.

“We believe the design proposed by Manston upholds the heritage of the area by maintaining an active retail/ commercial frontage, while the remaining building will be repurposed to utilise the multiple floors for mixed use and residential, therefore, diversifying the local economy.”