Residents, business owners and stakeholders throw support behind plans for Becketwell regeneration

DERBY, U.K. - Oct. 15, 2019 - PRLog -- Local residents, business owners and key stakeholders from across the city have thrown their support behind plans for the regeneration of the Becketwell area of Derby.

An outline planning application was submitted at the end of August after contracts were exchanged between Leeds-based developer St James Securities and Derby City Council on the former Debenhams department store in Derby and surrounding sites.

Now, residents, business owners and key stakeholders have been invited to comment on the scheme ahead of a planning decision which is expected to be made before the end of the year.

To date, more than twice as many letters of support have been received in favour of the revitalisation of an area which has long been derelict.

Phase one of the scheme comprises of plans for 342 Build to Rent apartments on the site of the former Debenhams store on Victoria Street and a new public square on the site of the current United Reform Church.

The outline application is supported by a request to include a range of other complementary uses of the site, including up to 25,000m²  of new grade A offices, innovation centre and leisure to complement the residential and a planned multi-storey car park, with a smaller courtyard public square called Summerhill Yard to reflect that part of the site's historic street name.

Business leaders and other key stakeholders have been unequivocal in their support for the scheme, citing the benefits that a revitalisation of this area of the city centre would bring for the surrounding businesses and community.

Commenting on the feedback received to date, Paul Morris, director of St James Securities, said:

"It is heartening to see so many of the city's key stakeholders, business owners and members of the public take the time to submit letters of support for the scheme and we are pleased to see that our enthusiasm for the project is shared by the wider Derby community.

"We are hopeful of a successful determination to this Application by the end of 2019, which will enable us to make a start on site during 2020."

The work on the demolition of the former Debenhams building started last month and is set to be completed in May 2020. Construction work on the first phase of development set to commence in 2020.

St James Securities have completed many successful projects of this scale, including St Paul's Place in Sheffield and the award-winning Round Foundry in Leeds.

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