Green light for transformation plans at former Bennetts department store in Derby
Manston Investments, a commercial property investment company, has secured planning and listed building consent to transform its property at 8-9 Iron Gate in Derby city centre.
The former Bennetts department store, spanning over 36,000 sq ft across four floors and a basement, has been vacant since just before the first Covid lockdown due to the former business going into administration.
The approved scheme, developed with the assistance of local architects JSA Architects, cost consultants Armsons Barlow, and heritage planners Urban Fabric, will repurpose the space to better suit town centre needs post-Covid.
This includes partial demolition at the rear of number 8 for secondary access and a goods receiving area, improving daylighting to upper floors.
The large, single-occupier space will be divided for various independent uses.
The plans feature two smaller independent ground floor units for retail, food and beverage, or leisure, along with an independent suite of offices to the rear and a first floor with potential for open-plan or serviced office use.
Additionally, eight residential units are proposed on the upper floors. With the proposed demolition considered, the building will offer a total area of approximately 30,000 sq ft in its proposed format.
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 2 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.”
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 working with Manston Investments to shape a new chapter for a wonderful building that has played an important role, both in Derby’s heritage and in its future".
