Permission secured to breathe new life into historic building

A property investment firm has secured planning permission and listed building consent to repurpose a historic property in Derby city centre.

Manston Investments has been given the green light to breathe new life into 8-9 Iron Gate, know to many as the former Bennetts department store.

The property, which became vacant just before the first Covid lockdown, features more than 36,000 sq ft across four floors, as well as an extensive basement.

With the help of a local team, including architects JSA Architects and cost consultants Armsons Barlow, the approved scheme will provide a range of accommodation.

Partial demolition at the rear of number 8 will allow for secondary access and a goods receiving area – this will also facilitate better daylighting to the upper floors.

Internally, the former large single occupier space will be divided to cater for a variety of independent uses.

The approved plans show two smaller independent ground floor units fronting Iron Gate and suited to retail, food and beverage or other leisure uses.

There will be an independent suite of offices to the rear, and a first floor with potential for open plan or serviced office use. The upper floors show eight residential units.

Allowing for the proposed demolition, the building will offer a total area in its proposed format of approximately 30,000 sq ft.

Tom Boardman-Weston, director of Manston Investments, said: “This has been a lengthy process due to the historic single use nature of the building and also the Grade II listed status of number 9 Iron Gate.

“Repurposing the floorspace to attract a range of current day uses more readily has been a complicated task, but we are delighted that a way forward is now clearer.”

There is now an opportunity for investors to take on the next stage of the project after the property recently went on the market with local agents, Rigby & Co and OMEETO.

John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: “We are delighted to see that Derby City Council has granted planning permission and look forward to witnessing the next chapter for this wonderful building, which plays an important role, both in Derby’s heritage and in its future.”