Bids ‘potentially massive for city’
CASH will be sought for “massive” projects which will help “unlock” Derby’s potential and “move the city forward”.
Derby City Council bosses will make three Levelling Up bids in the coming weeks – one for a brand-new theatre at the Market Place, a second for a new “business class” city centre hotel, and the third to redevelop the Friar Gate Goods Yard site, which has stood derelict for decades.
In total, the Conservative-led city council will be bidding to the Government for almost £50 million to get the three projects off the ground.
Should the bids be successful, and all other matters dealt with, it is hoped they will all come to fruition from 2025 onwards.
The approval to make the three bids was made during a speciallyarranged cabinet meeting yesterday afternoon. The council will find out later this year if the bids have been successful.
The new theatre at the site of the former Assembly Rooms is seen by council bosses as a “catalyst” project to drive more people into the city centre.
The new 150-bed hotel on the redeveloped Becketwell site is seen currently as the missing ingredient needed to complete the development.
And funding for the Friar Gate Goods Yard site is said to be needed to help unlock the site’s potential as a residential, business and public realm space. Part of the project could also see the historic Friar Gate Bridge back into use for the first time in decades.
Council leader Chris Poulter said: “These are three submissions that are potentially massive for the city to unlock three development sites that for decades have been unused and been a blight on the city.
“There’s an opportunity to complete the Becketwell development with the hotel. The Friar Gate Goods Yard has been a concern for the council of all colours for years, and at the same time find some resolution for the Friar Gate Bridge itself, which needs attention.
“All three projects will be a massive boost to our plans and ambition for revitalisation of the city, so all very positive from my point of view.”
Cabinet member councillor Steve Hassall said the city could not afford not to make bids.
He said: “We’re talking big numbers and big opportunity. Regardless if we’re successful in these bids or not, we should absolutely put these bids in. We can’t afford not to.
“There’s more at play here than getting those bids. It’s about the message it sends out to the wider public, to our residents, to the country and the Government that says this city wants to move forward and has the ambition to do so.”
Opposition councillors said they supported projects to improve Derby city centre, but there was initial concern on how much the council would be taking on should the bids be successful.
Derby Labour deputy leader Nadine Peatfield said: “These are three major projects of huge investment, and my concern is are they at considerable risk?
“When you add on top of that we’ve got three major projects happening at the moment which haven’t yet been delivered – Becketwell Arena, Market Hall and the Eastern Gateway – that is a lot for us to take on at once and we have made mistakes in the past where we have bitten off more than we can chew.”
Liberal Democrat leader for Derby, Ruth Skelton, added: “We as a council have other things to do, such as our statutory duties, and if things do not go as we planned we just need to be careful and keep our eyes on the things statutorily we are required to do as well.”
The Government did set an initial deadline of July 6 for councils to make Levelling Up bids, which is why the cabinet meeting was held. But it was heard at the meeting that the deadline had been extended for all councils by around two weeks.
Here is more detail about the projects.
NEW THEATRE
Assemble would be a new learning theatre constructed in partnership with University of Derby on the key city centre site of the former Assembly Rooms.
It would use culture to regenerate the area, bringing events and activity to the city centre. The new theatre would contribute to Derby’s City of Culture 2029 bid.
Assemble would increase the scale and appeal of Derby Theatre’s locally produced content and attract a variety of toured productions. It would also build on artist development programmes, embed a research hub into the organisation and enable it to expand and develop the theatre’s youth, community and outreach programmes.
The project would increase theatre attendance by 83,000 and attract an additional 25,000 visitors to Derby each year. It would also generate an additional £1.7 million per year for the local economy.
It would also give 123 graduate and post-graduate students a base at the theatre, up from 49 at present.
A Levelling Up fund bid of £20 million is proposed for this project. Delivery of the scheme would also require council borrowing.
BECKETWELL HOTEL
A new hotel would be a boost for the city centre, capitalising on visitor demand from the delivery of the 3,500 capacity Becketwell performance venue, which is due to open in 2024.
The hotel would be delivered in partnership with St James Securities.
At this stage the bid is for £15 million, which would mean delivery of the project would also require council borrowing.
But it is anticipated that operation of the hotel will generate a net revenue income stream for the council, which should offset some, if not all, of the costs of borrowing.
We’re talking big numbers and big opportunity
Councillor Steve Hassall
FRIAR GATE GOODS YARD AND BRIDGE
This is a Clowes Developments project which envisages workspace, residential units and green space.
The council will apply for funding to renovate Friar Gate Bridge to create a “new active public space” and invest in the city’s heritage.
The scheme would refurbish the Friar Gate railway bridge and restore the listed Victorian structure.
The Government bid will be for between £14 million and £16 million.