Derby projects to receive multi-million funding boost

Major projects designed to support economic growth in Derby are to receive a multi-million-pound funding boost.

Earlier this week, the board of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) met to approve up to £9.5 million of funding for projects across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Among the projects is the Derby City Urban Quarter, which is to receive up to £3.75 million, Infinity Park, which will receive up to £1.5 million and the South Derbyshire Growth Zone, which will also receive up to £1.5 million.

The cash has come from EMCCA’s Investment Fund, which has worked with partners to look at projects that can make an impact in the region, that do important work to invest in homes, jobs, manufacturing, clean energy creation and greener spaces.

Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward said: “These projects have been chosen for funding this year because their delivery will help boost the region’s economy.

“They will create jobs, help towards building homes, boosting local businesses and manufacturing and produce cleaner energy.”

John Forkin, managing director at Marketing Derby, said: “We welcome confirmation of this funding as Derby is already on an exciting journey to revitalise the city centre with a number of major schemes set to come to fruition in 2025.

“The additional investment will provide a further boost – as well as efforts to create new jobs in advanced manufacturing and clean energy sectors, such as nuclear.”

The Derby City Urban Quarter project involves transforming priority areas to create a vibrant, sustainable, and accessible urban quarter.

The funding will enable the wider project work to revitalise historic buildings, enhanced transport infrastructure, create new homes and improve public realm.

The money for Infinity Park, which is part of the East Midlands Investment Zone, would be used for a new research and development facility to support advanced manufacturing and nuclear sectors.

The project will provide services, facility hire and collaborative space to attract new supply chain businesses and inward investment.

Finally, the cash for the South Derbyshire Growth Zone would be used to help create a new junction on the A50, close to Infinity Park, which would enable plans to build a garden village of 4,500 homes, 3.45 million square feet of commercial space, plus supporting infrastructure including a secondary school.

Mayor Claire said: “We want to invest in vital projects, we can’t achieve the vision on our own, we need to work with partners across the region to invest in the right projects, projects that will make a real difference and this funding is just the start for the East Midlands.”