Walking tall over flats bid

REGENERATION officials have welcomed the result of a vote that keeps plans for Derby’s tallest apartment block on course to become a reality.

At a meeting of the city council’s planning committee on Thursday night, councillors voted against a planning officer’s recommendation to refuse permission for the 17-storey building, known as The Landmark.

While the committee stopped just short of granting planning permission for the development, which is proposed for a current car park site in Phoenix Street, it voted to “be minded to grant planning permission” at a future meeting when conditions that need to be attached to the development would be discussed.

Ahead of the meeting, a number of the scheme’s supporters urged the committee to give it the green light, claiming that Derby needed more build-to-rent accommodation and that the £24 million development would provide the city with an economic boost.

However, a number of heritage A computer generated image of The Landmark building planned for Phoenix Street in Derby bodies had objected to the scheme – put forward by developer Godwin Developments – on the grounds of its size, design and impact on the city’s heritage assets.

At its highest point the development, consisting of more than 200 apartments, would measure 54m.

Following Thursday’s meeting a number of property professionals took to social media, welcoming the outcome of the vote.

On Twitter, commercial property firm Rigby and Co, which has been involved in a number of key property deals in the city centre recently, described the council’s decision as a “vote for progress, regeneration, ambition and a shot in the arm for the economy of the city centre”.

Meanwhile Mark Richardson, a director at commercial property firm BB&J Commercial, tweeted: “A great result and plaudits to all of those who had the ability to see and say what this means for the future of the city.”

Some Derby Telegraph readers also welcomed the fact that The Landmark scheme is being kept alive. Reader Scott2 posted on our website: “Fantastic, and surprising, news. I hope it goes ahead.” While Chadmonkey wrote: “Just get on with it and get it green lighted.”

John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, who spoke in support of The Landmark at the meeting, said: “We’re delighted with the decision and feel that it was the right thing to do.

“It was an extensive debate and this decision recognises that we need to diversify the purpose of the city centre. The Landmark will provide a step change in city living and I am confident Godwin will deliver a quality product.”

However, despite the planning committee’s vote, The Landmark continues to have its detractors.

Commenting on our website, DerbyVillager said: “I’m fine with the height of it – it’s not even as tall as the cathedral, which is hardly big.

“It is ugly, though. It seems we are recreating the 1960s and anyone with a smattering of history knows what a disaster those buildings were.”