Major update on next phase for Becketwell regeneration in Derby city centre

Derby City Council is “exploring” options to continue redeveloping the Becketwell area in the city centre.

The area has seen plenty of construction activity in the last couple of years, with hundreds of new homes built, public realm space created, and the new £45.8 million Vaillant Live entertainment venue now open and attracting thousands of visitors each week.

The Labour-led council is now keen to put the wheels in motion for further phases of the £200 million regeneration project. 

The scheme’s next phase is to create new offices in the area. Council leader Nadine Peatfield says employment and commercial space are a “key objective” in the scheme. 

Councillor Peatfield, who is also cabinet member for city centre and regeneration, said: “The £200 million Becketwell regeneration scheme is a major part of a larger vision for Derby’s future. Its primary goal is to revitalise a key part of the city centre, creating a new and vibrant quarter that draws people back to the heart of the city.

“Delivering new office accommodation within Derby city centre is a key objective in our city centre ambition, and the council and St James Securities are proactively working together to explore commercial developments for Duckworth Square.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) asked the council what the timescale is for the next phase to start or be delivered, but no answer was provided. 

According to the Becketwell Derby regeneration website, future planned phases include “new Grade A offices and commercial space, a hotel, a multi-storey car park and purpose-built student residential”.

The council leader recently said the Vailliant Live arena at the regeneration site was boosting Derby’s economy just months after opening in the spring.

During the Summer Sessions concerts at the 3,500 capacity arena, Cllr Peatfield told a cabinet meeting: “To see the the amount of people flooding into the building from 5pm onwards knowing they will have been circulating around the city eating, drinking and shopping is just a wonderful thing to see.

“We know for a fact that businesses are reporting an upturn in their profits and their attendance and footfall.”

Rick Perdesi, owner of nearby city centre bar R Lounge, told the LDRS he noticed an upturn in footfall at the premises during the summer session concerts.

Nick Parker, owner of Bar One, also agreed with Cllr Peatfield’s observation about it boosting trade. He said: “We’ve had people from across the country pay us a visit before and after shows, a lot of them saying they found us on Tripadvisor and saw how close we were to the venue. It’s been a slow burner, but the first major events seem to have been a success for us.”