Why Derby’s next chapter will be well worth the wait

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.

They say the best things in life come to those who wait.

Well, to my mind, that really depends on how long you’re expected to wait for!

Waiting for a Guinness to be poured properly is, in my opinion, time well invested.

On the other hand, being on the phone for the best part of an hour waiting for your broadband provider to respond – and then being transferred to the wrong department – not so.

But sometimes there are things that really are worth waiting for.

Take Friar Gate Goods Yard for example. Derby had been waiting for over half a century for someone to come along and salvage this derelict site until Wavensmere Homes came along.

Thankfully, the housebuilder is currently on site clearing away the many decades of undergrowth and detritus, to make way for an impressive mixed-use development.

Every time I drive by there’s activity – and now that most of it has been cleared – the site looks far bigger than I first thought.

I can’t wait to see what the finished scheme will look like, particularly if Wavensmere’s Nightingale Quarter development on the former DRI site is anything to go by.

One business that seemingly cannot wait either is Beverly Hills-based global real estate investment firm Kennedy Wilson.

In February, it was announced that it had bought 131 houses, which are currently being constructed as part of the £75 million mixed-use scheme.

It’s great to see an investor of this stature get involved, turbocharging this important scheme.

Another key Derby project which I’m really hoping will be worth the wait is the revamped Derby Market Hall.

For the past few years, this historic Grade II-listed Victorian gem has been undergoing a painstaking £35.1 million restoration.

I’ve missed it – as I’m sure many of you have.

However, Derby City Council recently revealed that the building is set to reopen to the public on 24 May as a hub for food, shopping and entertainment.

And I, for one, can’t wait to stand in the middle of it, mouth agape, looking at that beautiful ceiling once again!

Derby Market Hall is one of the key pieces in the city centre’s regeneration puzzle.

Another piece that is due to slot into place soon is Becketwell Live.

This brand new £45.8 million venue is due to open its doors very soon – and you may well have noticed a steady flurry of acts being announced in recent weeks.

February saw the official handover of the building by St James Securities to its owners Derby City Council – and its operator ASM Global.

Now, I know some of you have been on hard hat tours of the building and already know how spectacular it is.

Call me weird (as some people invariably do) but I have so far resisted the temptation to have a look around before it opens.

Instead, I want my first experience of Becketwell Live to be an actual show or event.

One thing’s for sure, both Derby Market Hall and Becketwell Live will provide  a major boost to Derby’s cultural offer.

The cultural sector in general has endured a challenging time of late, both locally and nationally.

So, it was really encouraging to be able to report on the appointment of Alix Manning-Jones, who will head up Culture Derby – a new strategic development agency – to drive the growth and impact of Derby’s culture and creative sectors.

As well as having the buildings capable of staging significant cultural events, it is important that Derby has a strong programme of activities.

One of the jewels in Derby’s events programme is the FORMAT International Photography Festival, of which Marketing Derby is a sponsor.

Taking place in March, in venues across the city, FORMAT is a spectacular showcase of the world’s best photography and lens-based media.

It offers something for everyone, so why not log onto the FORMAT 25 website and see what’s happening?

There’s also another very important festival of sorts taking place in March – not in Derby, but in Cannes, France.

It’s called MIPIM – an international property fair, which brings together 25,000 investors from across the globe.

At MIPIM, cities and regions pitch to investors for investment – and Derby will once again be represented.

‘Team Derby’, made up of my investment colleagues here at Marketing Derby, who will be joined by some of our partners, will be pressing the flesh and wearing out the shoe leather in an effort to persuade those with the money to invest in our fair city.

Derby’s strategy for attracting international investors works. Over the years, we have seen a number of overseas firms put their faith – and their money – in Derby.

They include German heating technology giant Vaillant, Swedish medical technology manufacturer Getinge and South Korean car manufacturer Kia.

All three companies have invested in new bases at Indurent Park Derby, a multi-million-pound business park being created by Indurent, which is owned by US-based Blackstone.

Elsewhere, Cale Street Partners, backed by the Kuwaiti Sovereign Wealth Fund, is continuing to invest in the Derbion shopping centre.

These successes have once again led to Derby being named among the best in Europe for its strategy in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).

In the prestigious Financial Times’ fDi European Cities and Regions of the Future 2025 rankings, Derby has been placed sixth within the Top 10 Small European Cities for FDI Strategy category, which recognises the cities who have devised the strongest strategy for attracting investment.

And while out in MIPIM, representatives from Team Derby will proudly accept the award at a special ceremony.

2025 is a special year for Derby – and not just because some of our major schemes are about to come to fruition.

This year is the 200th anniversary of an industry that has sustained Derby for generations – rail.

To mark this historic landmark, an organisation called Railway 200 has been established to oversee numerous events.

Leading the celebrations is Derby train-maker Alstom, which in August will host ‘The Greatest Gathering’ at its historic Litchurch Lane Works.

It promises to be the UK’s largest ever gathering of historic rail vehicles – and is sure to attract rail enthusiasts from far and wide.

You could say it is an event that has been 200 years in the making – and if you like trains, it should be well worth the wait!

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