DERBY | Projects & Construction

[The_Curves_Man]

...quite, The Rams.

Going back to the matter of The Strand, they're featuring it in a 'changing face of our High Streets' special as part of 'East Midlands Today' tonight on BBC One, or so it seemed from a trailer earlier today. It might be later this week, though.

[The Rams]

http://www.tpbennett.com/portfolio/project_profile/117

If you look closely on the first artist impression there appears to be a Rolls Royce logo on one of the proposed buildings. Could this mean that we might see some activity soon with this development?

[heatonparkincakes]

I apologize for my ignorance in advance.

But although my child hood in part was spent in Derby, I am cut adrift of news of the city.

So can I ask some questions.

A development was proposed some time ago on the DRI. How did it go then?

What happened to the Roundhouse next to the station. Did it get occupied by the Uni?

What's Irongate like these days?

I would appreciate any sensible remarks.

[MattN]

The college got the Roundhouse, otherwise I can't really say. It's been a while since I wandered in Derby.

[Fozberg]

Ive recently started working in Derby city centre and think that overall its a nice place. There are a lot of empty units with for sale/ to let signs everywhere. I thought this maybe due to the recession but i also understand that Westfield has sucked many of the shops down towards the train station.

The catherdal quarter seems like a good idea but seems to be struggling to get going and the only crane i has seen so for is working on the refurbishment of council house.

[GlennTheBaker]

http://www.realestate.bnpparibas.co....isk_report.pdf

[The_Curves_Man]

A very revealing read, GlennTheBaker - well spotted!

I don't suppose the Marketing Derby people and such like will be drawing much attention to this. It's not exactly 'on message' ;-)

[GlennTheBaker]

Yes, how strange that the Derby Telegraph have not reported upon this! Its so different when Westfield come to them and say "Our footfall is up by 4%. We're not releasing any figures to back this up so you'll just have to believe us". The story gets published and all the usual suspects like John Forkin jump in and say how great everything is since Westfield came along.

Speaking of that Forkin idiot, there is an article in the Croydon Advertiser HERE about Westfield taking over a shopping centre in Croydon. Forkin has his say in response to Chris Ling's (proprietor of Optimum Gifts - recently closed) warnings of how the Cathedral Quarter and independent traders in the city have suffered since the centre opened in October 2007:

John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: "If Westfield are in Croydon then you’ve got the number one retail property company investing in your area.

"They’re light years ahead of many operators."

He believes Croydon Council would need to support those outside Westfield in the short-term, but claimed there are huge long-term benefits.

He says in a national retail league table, Derby has leapt from 63rd to 31st.

Mr Forkin said: "They have created 3,000 new jobs, brought 120 new brands into the city and the number of people visiting the city went up from 16 million to 25 million.

"That’s the positive side, but it’s fair to say since Westfield opened there have been massive changes across the rest of the city centre.

"My headline would be Westfield have been fantastic for the city centre – the figures speak for themselves.

"Yes, there have been some casualties but how many are directly because of Westfield or the recession?"

He explained independent traders outside have had to think about the 'shopper of tomorrow' with their offering, as new 'identities' were created in parts of the city.

Mr Forkin added: "There were a tough couple of years, but they now seem to have come out the other end and are benefiting from the extra shoppers coming into the city."


What a pompous wanker.

[The_Curves_Man]

The Derby Telegraph is rather wont to accentuate the positive when it comes to 'exciting' new developments in the city. We're all supposed to be grateful to these monolithic corporations, somehow and any other opinions are considered mean-spirited and talking the city down. So, no, I'm not surprised at all.

I wouldn't QUITE couch my views of Mr. Forkin in those terms, (I had a reasonably constructive argument with him at a networking event at Pride Park once, which was a somewhat 'energetic' exchange) but he does come over as rather too blithe and his attitude to the dereliction of the former Debenhams was uncomprehending...as if it wasn't a problem that one of the largest (if not, THE largest) retail units in the City Centre faced an uncertain future.

The existing retail core of Croydon better watch out. Westfield Croydon might just create more havoc than all of last August's riots ;-)

[GlennTheBaker]

Only just spotted THIS from over a week ago (yet another 'bad news' story the Derby Telegraph decided not to run).

[The_Curves_Man]

Many thanks for that, GlennTheBaker.

I've just banged off an E-Mail directly to Councillor Hickson, telling him just what I think of his views.

Wish me luck with his reply - that's if he bothers!

[GlennTheBaker]

Another predictable response to a 'everything's far from rosy' story HERE.

[Fozberg]

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/33...ail/story.html

33000 houses, isnt that worth talking about?

What about a Westfield extension?

[L8Hatter]

Quite a lot about to happen in Derby

Probably the biggest concentration of big projects since Pride Park?

Will start with the one nearly completed - The £30m redevelopment of The Council House and new Hydro-Electric plant in the City Centre.

Should have opened already, but not too far behind schedule. Walking past today, it looks like it's less than a month away. Here's a link to the council web page giving all the basic info, which includes a fairly decent, walkaround render video

http://www.derby.gov.uk/whats-happen...redevelopment/

In summary, the aim is to centralise the majority of council admin and services in one building. At present, these are spread across a number of city centre sites, which will be sold or leased. Looks like it could be a cracking public building, particularly with the open council chamber in the rotunda

Here's a couple of pics from today from across the river, to the rear of the building

[IMG][/IMG]



And another from the bridge side, looking down to The Quad. The porticos have had a brush-up and are looking pretty spiffy



My camera batteries gave out at this point, so couldn't get a shot of the front. There is one in the link above

Here's a couple of the new Hydro-power plant, adjacent to the Council Offices





Has a thin band of red lights at the base of the dome and middle of the drum at night. Much preferred the trees that used to be there though and it's already looking a bit manky before opening. Potentially an eyesore, and a potentially a waste of money?

To folllow: Derby's plans to become the sporting hub of the region

[philkeavo]

Looks the biz

[L8Hatter]

Cheers Phil. Will try to find out when it is due to open to the public

And now, as an armchair cycling fan, the most exciting Derby development possible..

A Velodrome!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-20433898


http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Wo...ail/story.html

More to follow

[ferguss]

Originally Posted by L8Hatter

Cheers Phil. Will try to find out when it is due to open to the public

And now, as an armchair cycling fan, the most exciting Derby development possible..

A Velodrome!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-20433898


http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Wo...ail/story.html

More to follow

Good to hear.

Also about the hydroelectric power station - is there any specific reason they use materials which attract mold/algae? It really annoys me with some of these new buildings, they use materials that attracts it and don't bother cleaning, making the building look dated in just a couple of years.

Do you have information/pictures on Friar Gate Sq.? I've moved out of Derby recently so not able to have a snoop around as much.

[L8Hatter]

I go past Friar Gate Square a couple of times a week out running, but it's always too dark for pics at the moment. Looks like the covers will come off soon and it could be the best modern office building in the centre

Have realised what an impact the council relocations will have. They're redeveloping and selling Roman House (just across the road from Friar Gate Square), and moving out of the adjacent, leased Heritage Gate building.

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Ro...ail/story.html

They're also going to redevelop and sell the huge site on St Mary's Gate. That must be 500 people at least moving out of the Cathedral Quarter to Full Street

[nottsman]

No posts since Dec 2nd on this thread.

And OMG just checked back over the threads, nothing for Derby for months !!!

Not much going on in Derby I see!!!

But then its always been the poor relation in the east midlands behind Nottingham and Leicester !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[leicslad3]

Originally Posted by nottsman

No posts since Dec 2nd on this thread.

And OMG just checked back over the threads, nothing for Derby for months !!!

Not much going on in Derby I see!!!

But then its always been the poor relation in the east midlands behind Nottingham and Leicester !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Though Derby's local economy is booming.