Street food market will bring more ‘variety’ to city centre
BUSINESS leaders have strongly backed plans for a new street market in Derby city centre, saying it is just what the city needs.
A planning application was submitted to Derby City Council earlier this summer for a new kiosk-style market on unused land at St Peter’s Churchyard next to St Peter’s Street.
Should the plans go ahead it will include up to 14 kiosks or stalls, a number of seating areas and a performance area.
The developer behind the plan, Burton Abbey Developments, is seeking permission from the city council to demolish part of a Grade II-listed boundary wall within St Peter’s Church so a suitable entrance area to the site can be created.
Leaders from Derby’s business sector say the plans will rejuvenate the area. In a letter to Derby City Council, Marketing Derby – a body that promotes Derby to attract investment – says the market would increase footfall and bring “variety” to the city centre offer.
The letter says: “This proposed change of use will create a destination alongside the thoroughfare which will eventually link the Becketwell regeneration area with the main city centre shopping district including the Derbion centre, bringing an increased and redefined footfall to the area in support of the daytime and nighttime economies.
“The venue for traders of food, drink and artisan products will create important employment in the city and encourage innovative startups and existing small and medium-sized enterprises to expand and grow, further boosting the city’s economic recovery, post-Covid. The presence of this development, as part of the regeneration of the city, will help raise the profile of Derby to the people of Derby and improve the visitor economy, ultimately encouraging additional inward investment across the city.” In a separate letter the St Peter’s Quarter Business Improvement District also welcomed the planning application.
Its chair, Helen Wathall, said: “This development, alongside plans for the regeneration of other parts of St Peter’s Quarter has the potential to support the rejuvenation of this part of the city. Street food markets bring a whole new level of relevance appeal and in a post-Covid environment the number of people opting to dine outdoors is increasing.”
However, as recently reported, the plans have also been met with concern by Historic England.
The organisation, which celebrates England’s heritage, said the plans were “inappropriate” for the area and raised concerns about the Grade II-listed boundary wall being demolished. It said: “In our view the proposed structures would form an intensive cluster of utilitarian-type buildings which would be highly inappropriate in this sensitive green space.”
The presence of this development will... improve the visitor economy
Marketing Derby