Derby City Lab announces move from Derbion to new home at Derby Market Hall

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It will be continuing its role as a community engagement hub in the city

Derby City Lab, a popular community hub is to make a new home at the soon-to-be opened Derby Market Hall.

The award-winning City Lab is on the move from Derbion following an announcement made at Marketing Derby’s Annual Business Event.

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The new move will see the City Lab continue its role as a hub for community engagement and innovation from the Market Hall which is due to open in spring this year after undergoing a major transformation.

Derby City Lab was created in 2022 and was based in St James’s St at the heart of the city’s regeneration frontline.

In 2024, it moved to a new location in the Derbion shopping centre.

The Lab is a hub for engaging the community in better understanding the evolution of the city.

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Visitors can find out about how the city centre is changing, explore the City Living Room which showcases Derby’s 300-year history of innovation, and view a range of exhibitions focused on ideas to regenerate Derby, including the University of Derby’s futuristic Derby Urban Sustainable Transition (DUST) vision.

Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, said: “Derby City Lab has been integral in helping citizens and stakeholders to understand and shape the city centre’s transformation.

“I’m delighted to see that it will be moving into Derby Market Hall.

“It is central to our regeneration plans, reimagining our city centre with culture at its heart and making a better-connected, sustainable city for the future.”

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“Derby City Lab will continue to provide a space where residents and visitors can learn more about the city centre’s ongoing regeneration and share their views on future plans.

“We are committed to engaging with residents in innovative ways and the Lab plays a big part in that. I am so excited for the opening of Derby Market Hall and am thrilled to welcome Derby City Lab to their new home.”

John Forkin, Managing Director of Marketing Derby said: “The Derby City Lab is a unique innovation in the UK, a genuine attempt to engage local people in the shaping of their city.

“We recently welcomed our 15,000th visitor and are excited to become part of the rediscovery of the wonderful Derby Market Hall.”

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Derby Market Hall redevelopment is a £31.5m project part funded with £9.43m from the Government’s Future High Street Fund (FHSF).

It is in the second phase of the transformation, focusing on refurbishing the interior and developing the public space outside at Osnabruck Square.

Located at the heart of the city centre, linking Derbion and St Peter’s Quarter with the Cathedral Quarter and Becketwell, the new Market Hall will play a key role in widening the diversity of the city centre and will generate £3.64m for the local economy every year.

Based on concepts in Shanghai and Amsterdam, the Derby City Lab is an award-winning initiative (winning Estates Gazette award as the Best Public-Private Partnership in the UK).

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The Derby City Lab project has been spearheaded by Marketing Derby and partners including Clowes Developments, the Derbion, Lathams, the University of Derby and Derby City Council.

For more information about Derby City Lab click here: derbycitylab.com

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