Rail development visions build up a head of steam

This year saw Derby set out to justify its title as a global leader in the rail sector.

The city is already home to the largest cluster of rail companies in Europe – and has a long and proud association with the industry.

And 2024 saw the official launch of plans to create a new campus in Derby devoted to companies and organisations involved in the sector.

A joint effort between Derby City Council, Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT), East Midlands Combined County Authority, and wider stakeholders, Rail Campus Derby aims to become a key hub for the UK’s rail industry, supporting collaboration across all facets of the sector.

Rail Campus Derby is born out of Great British Railways’ mission to create a simpler and more efficient railway system for everyone in Britain.

With its impressive rail heritage and position at the heart of Europe’s largest rail cluster, Derby is seen as the ideal location for this industry-wide hub.

For more than 180 years the city has been a leader in the rail sector, which still employs more than 11,000 in the area.

In 2023, Derby was chosen as the new home of Great British Railways, beating off competition from five other shortlisted cities from across the UK.

Great British Railways Transition Team, a key driver in Rail Campus Derby, has already established a presence in the city while the search for a permanent GBR headquarters continues.

More than 200 delegates and stakeholders attended the official launch of Rail Campus Derby, which included speeches and presentations from leading national rail organisations and key regional stakeholders.

The event explored opportunities for railway businesses and organisations from across the country to co-locate businesses or key personnel alongside the new headquarters for Great British Railways at the proposed campus.

Speaking at launch, which took place at Reach Events, Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Derby; one that will create more training and jobs for local people, and bring huge opportunities for further regeneration.”

Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, who also spoke at the launch, said: “The new Rail Campus will be a hub of learning and innovation. It will bring together public and private sector organisations in a collaborative environment, working towards faster and more efficient outcomes for all the railway’s stakeholders.”

And addressing the launch, John Forkin, managing director at Marketing Derby, said: “The city is already home to the largest cluster of rail companies in Europe and the rail campus concept levers the new GBR headquarters to further extend our hub of excellence as we shape the railway of the future.

“We sense there will be many inward investment opportunities as a result.”

2024 also saw Derby City Council launch a public consultation seeking views on planning guidance that could help pave the way for the potential regeneration of an area around Derby’s railway station.

It seeks feedback on interim planning guidance, which has been drafted for Derby Station Quarter – the area immediately around Derby Midland Station.

If approved, it would guide development and planning decisions in Derby Station Quarter until the adoption of a new Local Plan in 2026.

The draft interim planning guidance for Derby Station Quarter sets out the anticipated ‘direction of travel’ of planning policy for the area, which will assist in promoting it as an investment proposition, highlighting important development opportunities, and creating greater certainty in relation to planning requirements.

The intention is that this draft interim planning guidance, the comments on it and any changes necessary as a result, will be considered by the city council’s cabinet in 2025.

In order to gather as many views as possible, Derby City Lab hosted an exhibition about the Derby Station Quarter proposals, which included drop-in sessions with council officers.

The public consultation is still ‘live’, with the closing date for responses being Monday 13 January.

To take part in the consultation online visit https://letstalk.derby.gov.uk/derby-station-quarter-ipg-consultation.