There’s definitely ‘something in the air’ here in Derby

Here, in his latest monthly column reflecting on the news over the past month, our Press and PR Executive Robin Johnson looks at the headlines.

Have you ever been driving along in your car and a song plays on the radio at just the right moment?

When I say the right moment, I mean the song reflects exactly what you’re thinking at that precise moment in time.

It happened to me the other day. I was on my way back from doing a shift in the Derby City Lab, talking to members of the public about all the exciting regeneration projects happening in the city now and in the future.

Anyway, the song in question that came on the radio was ‘Something in the Air’ by Thunderclap Newman.

If you’ve never heard it, I suggest you ask your Alexa, or hop onto Spotify or YouTube, because it’s a cracking tune from the late 1960s.

It was the lyrics in particular that struck a chord with me.

“Call out the instigators because there’s something in the air”, it begins.

Then the next line is: “We got to get together sooner or later, because the revolution’s here – and you know it’s right.”

Here in Derby, there’s definitely something in the air – the revolution is here (in terms of the city’s regeneration), and it certainly feels right.

So, who are the ‘instigators’ of this revolution? Well, I’m happy to say there are many.

Wavensmere Homes is one. Currently, the developer is completing the final phase of its £175 million Nightingale Quarter scheme.

This month, it is due to move onto site at Friar Gate Goods Yard where it will embark on a £75 million project, which will breathe new life into this historic site following decades of dereliction.

It can begin work at the 11.5-acre site thanks to a £24 million loan.

I don’t know if you’ve been in the Derby City Lab recently, but on one of the television screens there is a video walkthrough of what the completed development will look like.

“Very nice – but it will never happen,” one visitor said while I was there.

Suffice to say, we took great pleasure in telling them work would start in a matter of weeks.

Incidentally, during September the Derby City Lab welcomed its 10,000th visitor – which is a fantastic achievement.

Derby City Council has also been busy instigating change.

Next year, the revamped Derby Market Hall will reopen following a £35 million investment, with businesses currently being encouraged to come forward and find out more about taking space within this beautiful historic building.

Last week, the council released new images showing what both the interior and exterior of the new-look Market Hall will look like once open – and it looks well worth waiting for.

Also, next year, the mightily impressive Becketwell Live entertainment and conference venue will open its doors.

During September, Marketing Derby teamed up with venue operator ASM Global to conduct hard hat tours, which saw more than 120 Bondholders get a sneak peek inside the new building.

Derbion is also playing its part in Derby’s regeneration revolution.

In September, it was announced that work to transform a new gateway to the city centre was due to start after final funding arrangements for the project were approved by Derby City Council.

The Eastern Gateway, delivered by Derbion and part-funded by the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, will create a new façade and urban garden, transforming the area opposite the bus station and the eastern entrance to the shopping and leisure destination.

Finally, if you’ve driven down Ford Street or Agard Street recently, the University of Derby’s new Business School, which is due to open next year, is looking magnificent.

I recently had a look at a virtual 3D tour of the building, and take it from me, it is absolutely stunning.

It is hoped that all the forthcoming major city centre regeneration projects will have a positive ripple effect, particularly on the high street.

But maybe there are signs of this happening already after a recent study by the Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter BIDs found an influx of new businesses coming into the city.

Hopefully, this is just the beginning. What we, as ‘Team Derby’, need to do now is to get behind these new schemes.

What I mean by that is visit them, support them, tell your friends, your family, your neighbours, people you know who have stopped visiting the city centre for whatever reason.

I’m a great believer that success breeds success – and it is likely that the success of schemes will catalyse further regeneration in the city centre.

Allied to that, businesses also need to return to the streets where these ‘mega schemes’ are anchored – and feel the benefits of their ripple effect.

Because despite all the negative national stories we’ve seen about Derby this year (most of them spurious, by the way), things are happening in Derby. The city centre is changing for the better.

And this is a golden opportunity for the city to shine once more.

I shall refer you to the final line of that Thunderclap Newman song: “We have got to get it together. We have got to get it together now.”

Anyway, have a safe and productive October and I look forward to catching up again with you soon.