Progress For Derby City Centre Regeneration Project

The people of Derby should be very excited atstylishly re-landscaped making it an attractive
what is to become a bright future for their citypublic area overlooking the river Derwent, with
centre. After a long period of low investment inthe Cathedral in the background.
the city, the council has started the planning ofScheduled Developments for 2010
major development projects and majorRiverlights Complex - This £100million
improvements to the city centre's infrastructureproject will create a complex on the banks of the
to breathe new life into the whole area. In Aprilriver made up of a state-of-the-art bus station, a
2003, Derby Cityscape Ltd was established as theHoliday Inn and Hilton Hampton hotel as well as
company to oversee the urban transformation ofretail outlets and restaurants. The bus station is
Derby and created a master plan for the citydue to be up and running in the early part of
which would include, a new Further Education2010.
college, major expansion of the Eagle shoppingSt Helen's Street - £22million has been
Centre, housing developments by the riverside,earmarked for a housing project, designed
and proposals for upgrading transport links intoprovide 180 family eco-friendly homes comprising
and out of the city centre.of a mix of affordable housing and private sales.
The Masterplan was created and unveiled in 2005The first phase will develop 40 one and two
and work began on putting it into practice, but 5bedroom houses and is set to be finished in July
years on - how much progress has been made?2010.
Here we take a look at what has already beenDerby Railway Station Gateway - There are 2
achieved from the plan, what the proposals arephases of the regeneration program for the
for the immediate future of the city'srailway station. The first is for a transport
development, and what is in the pipeline.interchange at the station forecourt to ensure
Achievementso A £340m extension to thethat links to other types of transport are more
old Eagles Shopping Centre gave birth to theefficient and also cut traffic congestion.
impressive Westfield Centre which was opened£1.75m of the £1.8m funding for this
by Tess Daly in October 2007. It has over 150has now been approved by EMDA and ERDF, and
shops, a large cinema and many places to eat. Inthe difference will be made up by Derby City
2008 the centre received over 23 million visitors.oCouncil. Phase 2 involves the renovation of a
In September 2008 Derby QUAD was opened todilapidated building adjacent to the station to be
the public, the city's new centre forused for employment space. The £1.3m
Contemporary Art and Film which offers an artfunding for this scheme has already been secured
gallery, cinema, cafe bar and workshop. Sincefrom EMDA, Network Rail and The Railway
then the venue has been visited by over 223,000Heritage Trust. Work is due to begin on both
people.o In February 2009 the Cathedral Bridgephases in summer 2010.
was completed and went on to win the Small CivilFriar Gate Square - Planning permission for this
Engineering Project 2009 award at the British£20million development has recently been
Constructing Industry awards.o June 2009 sawobtained which will see the creation of two
the opening of the Jury's Inn hotel located in thelandmark office buildings providing 100,000sq ft of
middle of the city's vibrant Cathedral Quarter. Thequality office space. A pedestrian link will also be
modern and stylish hotel has 213 bedrooms asprovided to the historic Friar Gate railway bridge.
well as 5 meeting rooms and other businessIn The Pipeline
facilities.o In September 2009, the historic andLooking past 2010, Derby Cityscape has 5 other
recently restored Roundhouse building opened itsprojects lined up to begin in the following stage of
doors to students of Derby College. This projectDerby City's regeneration. All of these have now
was rewarded with the coveted Heritage Awardhad full planning permission approved. The projects
and also the Project of the Year award at theinclude a combination of city centre housing
Constructing Excellence EM Regional Awardsdevelopments, further top quality office space at
2009.o £22 million has already beenCathedral Green, improvements to the traditional
invested in renewing the platforms and facilities asheritage and retail areas in Sadler Gate and a retail
well as replacing the canopies at Derby's bustlingand office space complex on Cathedral road.
railway station.o Cathedral Green has been