Derby aims for billion-pound city centre investment

The first phase of the Derby City Centre Masterplan has started with the announcement of the sale of three prime real estate properties.

Deputy chief executive of Derby City Council, Christine Durrant, has invited proposals for Middleton House, Riverlights and Duckworth Square in the Becketwell regeneration area.

Durrant also told more than 360 business persons and investors at the Derby Property Summit that the Assembly Rooms site was to become the location for a new performance venue.

The sales of the Council-owned sites will effectively kick-start dormant and under-used sections of the city to meet business, commercial, social and residential requirements in partnership with the business community.

Middleton House, consisting of a 3,316 sq m footprint has been identified as a suitable mix use location for offices, residential, leisure, hotel and services. Riverlights, 14,071 sq m, is most suitable for residential, office, leisure, food and drink and the Becketwell site is now being market-tested for a retail, leisure and good-quality residential neighbourhood.

Durrant said: “The Council is seeking to use these assets to help promote city centre regeneration. We are particularly looking for proposals that will have a significant impact on our city centre.”

Councillor Martin Rawson Cabinet member with responsibility for City Centre Regeneration said: “A significant amount of work has already been undertaken to recreate Derby City Centre as a great place to live, work and relax, but we are not resting on our laurels.

“We are moving full steam ahead on delivering our Masterplan with the aim of levering billions of pounds of investment, creating new jobs and delivering new homes.

“We want to develop a vibrant city centre which will be a City of Choice, a Business City, a Living City and a Connected City.

“Investors and businesses have been integral partners in the progress so far and we will need constructive and mutually-beneficial partnerships to drive forward the next wave of regeneration successes.”