Derby Property Summit: How Derby is fast becoming the place to be

Derby is on an exciting journey – but it needs to believe in itself: that was one of the key messages from this year’s Derby Property Summit.

Held last week at Reach Events, on Pride Park, a capacity audience of 300 people, including business leaders, key decision-makers and investors from across the region and beyond, heard from respected keynote speakers and panellists who shared their views on Derby’s regeneration story to date.

At the event, entitled ‘This Must Be the Place’, delegates were briefed on the many exciting projects currently taking place in the city centre – and those in the pipeline.

And while it was acknowledged that exciting times lie ahead for the city, the people of Derby themselves need to get on board and start believing that the city will soon become “the place to be”.

Speaking at the summit, Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council, said: “2025 is going to be a major year for us with the new Business School, Market Hall, Performance Venue and many other amazing schemes opening, but the positivity goes much further than just 2025.

“I’m hopeful that once people start to see that change, rather than us just talking about it, there will be a tipping point – and they will be proud of what they see.”

The Derby Property Summit was organised by Marketing Derby, the Queen’s Award-winning investment promotion agency, and was backed by headline partner Smith Partnership, associate partner AtkinsRealis and brand partners Compendium Living, Willmott Dixon, VINCI UK Developments and ION Developments.

And it was once again expertly hosted by respected business journalist Declan Curry, who firstly introduced John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, to set the scene.

Mr Forkin outlined the theme of this year’s summit: the role of place in the regeneration of Derby.

He told the summit: “Derby has the highest salaries outside of anywhere in London and the South-East. However, we do have issues with social mobility.

“We see inward investment as a tool to help address these issues.

“The people of Derby have amazing ambitions for their place, we see these regularly expressed in the Derby City Lab.”

This year’s summit featured a stellar line-up of keynote speakers.

They included Samantha McClary, editor of the EG (formerly Estates Gazette), which provides data, news and analytics for the UK commercial property market, who called on the sector to realise that “place-making is much more important than turning a profit”.

She was followed by Ojay McDonald, chief executive of the Association of Town and City Management, who outlined some of the threats to the sector, such as digital technology and climate change – while offering possible solutions.

Two people who fully believe in Derby are Rob Dix and Rob Bence, from the popular property podcast The Property Hub, who set out why they believe Derby is one of the most investable places in the country.

The summit also heard from local leaders, who shared their hopes and visions for the future, with Councillor Peatfield joined by the region’s first ever East Midlands Mayor, Claire Ward.

And the event also heard from those on the frontline of Derby’s ongoing renaissance.

They included James Dickens, managing director at Wavensmere Homes, Paul Morris, director at St James Securities, Tammy Whitaker, Derby City Council’s director of city growth and vibrancy, Graham Lambert, managing director at VINCI UK Developments and Steve Parry, managing director at ION Developments, Atish Parmar, managing director of Cavendish & London Property Group and Danielle Upton, partner in commercial property at law firm Smith Partnership.

The Derby Property Summit also showcased the work of architecture students at the University of Derby, who shared their stunning visions for the North Riverside area of the city.