Concerns raised over major plans to transform Derby railway station

It was reported in November that Derby City Council had started to draw up plans to regenerate Derby’s “Station Quarter” in a vision to bring jobs and workers back into the city centre.

Masterplan documents were unveiled as part of a public consultation, which closes on this coming Monday (January 13).

The masterplan shows a transformational image showing how Derby’s Midland Station could look and be regenerated both at its city centre and Pride Park entrances.

It includes the creation of a new walkway from the entrance of the station to Midland Road, new entrance and signage for Derby Midland Station and new apartments and office space surrounding it.

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There are also plans for a new multi-storey car park at the Pride Park entrance and a new office building where a car park is currently situated.

The council says regenerating the area “will be a first step in encouraging a westward shift of office occupiers from Pride Park back towards the city centre”.

As well as a public consultation, the city council’s heritage and conservation advisory committee have been discussing the plans at a couple of meetings. The committee is made up of a number of heritage and conservation experts and a few councillors.

The committee has welcomed the plans but says the masterplan could be expanded to include surrounding places as well – namely Midland Road and the section of Railway Terrace where the Brunswick Inn is situated.

The minutes of one of the committee’s recent meetings states how there was division about the plans for a new multi-storey car park on the Pride Park side of the railway station. The concerns appear to be whether the new structure could harm the Derby Roundhouse from a visual perspective. The minutes state “the views on arrival into Derby to this landmark were identified as important”.

The committee have made the following recommendations to the city council about the regeneration plans:

• “Fundamental to the success of the regeneration of the Station Quarter were efficient transport links back to the core of the city.”
• “It was suggested that the area of the Station Quarter to the north, including Brunswick Public House and Wyvern House, should be included in the plan – they all had a significant bearing on the area from a conservation and railway heritage perspective.”
• “There appeared to be a lack of attention given to Midland Road, an area which might benefit from regeneration and attention.”
• “Careful consideration should be given to how the guidance could shape any future plans to redesign the station, particularly its frontage, to develop the building as a landmark coming into Derby and to ensure residents felt safe in its locality.”
• “The Guidance should be clearer as to what the aspiration was regarding the train station, as it was not clear whether the aspiration was to promote renovation of the station or not.”
• “Concerns were raised about the guidance introducing the possibility of a 9-storey building on the west-side of the station and to the southwestern carpark. Given its proposed proximity to the station and the possibility of overshadowing, the committee suggested that this was reconsidered.”
• “The Guidance included the suggestion of creating a multi-storey carpark to the east of the station adjacent to the highly graded listed Roundhouse complex (includes round house, engine shed, and carriage works and offices etc) and clock. That the views on arrival into Derby to this landmark were identified as important. The Committee was split on their views about the acceptability of the proposals for this element. Some were very concerned whilst others strongly suggested that the guidance should be clear that only exceptionally designed proposals would be appropriate in this very sensitive heritage area.”

Public consultation documents about the plans are on the council’s Let’s Talk Derby website. Residents have until Monday to comment on the draft proposals.