Green light for hundreds more city centre homes

Plans by the owners of Derbion to create hundreds of new homes on the site of a city centre retail park have been given the green light.

Derby City Council’s planning committee recently granted outline planning permission to transform the site of Bradshaw Way Retail Park.

Currently, the site is occupied by Matalan and Home Bargains.

Under the plans, the existing units would make way for various buildings, including a tower rising to a maximum of 19 storeys.

The proposals comprise up to 420 homes, approximately 50,000 sq ft of office space and 5,100 sq ft of commercial space.

A planning statement filed with the city council, on behalf of the applicant, stated: “This proposal would provide new high-quality homes whilst recognising Derby’s prerequisite needs for bringing people back into the city whilst improving permeability and connections and offering an office block to bring work back into the city centre.”

And a planners’ report for the committee added: “There is support for this scheme as it would bring forward regeneration opportunities, deliver much-needed housing and city centre living along with boosting the city’s economy and encouraging footfall into the city centre.

“It addresses the important role of mixed uses, active frontage and green space to bring the scheme down to a human scale and create a socio-economically successful city centre.

“These changes will promote the city as ‘the place to be’ whilst encouraging people to actively enjoy and engage with the developing places and spaces.”

The development forms part of the Derbion Masterplan, which also involves transforming a nearby site known as the Eagle Quarter.

The Eagle Quarter site is primarily occupied by the Eagle Market, Derby Theatre and The Castle and Falcon pub.

Under the proposals, these would be demolished, or partly demolished, to make way for 875 homes and around 25,000 sq ft of commercial space.

A separate application for outline planning permission has been submitted to the city council for this site.

Phase one of the Eagle Quarter development forms part of the Eastern Gateway scheme, planning for which was lodged with the city council last year.

The Eastern Gateway aims to improve public access to the city centre from Derby bus station, build a new entrance to Derbion on East Street, add additional shops and leisure outlets and create a new public boulevard.