Consultation launched on university’s new Derby Business School plan

A public consultation has been launched on plans by the University of Derby to create a new Business School in the city centre.

The proposed development, set to be built on land adjacent to the university’s One Friar Gate Square building, is due to open in 2024 and is projected to be the study base for more than 6,000 students by 2030.

On Thursday, from 3pm to 7pm, students, staff, members of the local community and businesses are invited to One Friar Gate Square to view and comment on the emerging proposals.

People can also have their say via an online survey (click here) which will be open until 12 December.

Professor Kamil Omoteso, pro vice-chancellor dean of the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences at the University of Derby, said: “The proposed development aims to provide a central hub for our business students, researchers and academics – as well as the wider business community – where they can support new ideas and strategies for global business.”

Comments, ideas and suggestions submitted as part of the consultation will be considered by the project team, which includes representatives from the university and architects Stride Treglown.

Feedback from the consultation has the potential to influence the final proposals as the scheme is developed in more detail.

Professor Omoteso said: “The university is working to make this vision a reality – a brand new, future-focused Derby Business School, serving as an international centre of excellence.

“We are pleased to see plans moving forward for this development and encourage people to attend the public consultation or complete the survey, so they can see for themselves our plans for this landmark building and share any views they may have on what’s proposed.”

Cora Kwiatkowski, divisional director and Stride Treglown’s sector head of higher education, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to be working closely with the University of Derby to design an inspiring new home for the Business School.

“This important new city centre development will strengthen the university’s civic role and presence in the city.

“We look forward to applying our experience of designing similar facilities and user-centred design principles to resolve the complex design brief and create a new sustainable world-class facility.”

The new Business School is proposed to be net zero carbon in construction and operation, aligning to the university’s sustainability strategies and its low carbon expertise and research agenda.

As well as supporting student growth and diversity and increasing physical capacity to accommodate the university’s future space needs, the Business School will also improve research and development opportunities, innovation and enterprise collaboration between students, entrepreneurs, D2N2 businesses and university staff to enable business growth and unlock new market opportunities internationally.

The university intends to submit a planning application to Derby City Council for the proposed development in January.

Following receipt of planning permission, the development is planned to commence in November next year with the building set to open in September 2024.