Planning applications has been submitted to revamp Derby Market Place and demolish the former Assembly Rooms site which councillors say ‘will transform the city centre’.
The plans are now being brought forward by VINCI UK Developments and ION Developments following two rounds of public consultation last year.
The proposals set out a mixed-use transformation of one of the city centre’s most prominent and long-stalled sites, aiming to create a new focal point for business, leisure and visitor activity.
At the heart of the scheme are proposals for new Grade A office space, a four-star hotel and a flexible multi-purpose visitor destination on the site of the former Derby Assembly Rooms.
The regeneration is intended to dovetail with recent investment nearby, including the refurbishment of the Market Hall, the opening of Vaillant Live, a live entertainments venue, and the restoration of the Grade II-listed Guildhall, as part of a broader city-centre revival.
Derby City Council is now assessing the planning application, with a business case for the redevelopment expected in the coming months.
A separate application has also been submitted to discharge conditions linked to demolition of the Assembly Rooms, with demolition and construction expected to follow once approvals are in place.
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, said: “We know this work is long overdue, and I am pleased with the city’s support as we begin making tangible progress. This submission is a major milestone, these proposals will transform the heart of our city centre, bringing new life, activity and investment to the city and creating a place that we can all be proud of.
The Market Place is a vital part of our city centre, and the submission of this planning application marks a fantastic step toward the site’s total transformation. We have listened carefully to feedback – which clearly showed an eagerness to crack on with redevelopment – and this has been instrumental in shaping these plans.
