A major music venue in Derby is set to be torn down as part of a £100million regeneration scheme aimed at transforming the city centre. The Assembly Rooms, which once hosted some of Britain’s biggest acts, has stood empty for more than a decade after a fire in 2014 left the building unsafe.
Once a key stop on the touring circuit, the venue welcomed legendary names including The Smiths, The Clash and Paul Weller during its heyday. Plans are now moving forward to demolish the long-derelict site and replace it with a large-scale redevelopment designed to breathe new life into the area. The £100m development aims to create a « multi-purpose visitor destination » and breathe new life into the city.
A report due to be considered on April 8 makes clear that councillors are not being asked to sign off on wider capital spending at this stage, aside from demolition works, which have already been approved under delegated powers.
A report prepared for the Labour-led council’s cabinet suggests around 60% of the scheme’s cost would be funded from public sources, with the remaining 40% expected to come from private investment.
Papers note the project will require a “substantial” level of investment, but stress the site is pivotal to efforts to revive Derby city centre.
Documents on the project stated: “Derby is a city of economic significance, the city region representing an economy of around £15bn, a key UK centre of excellence in advanced manufacturing, and one of the UK’s most central and connected cities. »
Two developers are currently competing for the project, which forms part of a wider initiative named DerbyMADE which aims to create a « multi-purpose visitor destination ».
Plans lodged by VINCI UK Developments and Ion Property Developments outline a scheme known as DerbyWORKS, featuring a six-storey office block with space for cafés, bars or restaurants on both the ground and upper levels.
A separate element, DerbyMADE, is expected to include a new library, co-working facilities, a live music venue with capacity for around 400 people, alongside additional commercial units.
Planning papers also indicate the proposed DerbyHOTEL would take the form of a seven-storey, four-star development offering up to 160 rooms.
The council confirmed the application is due to go before its planning control committee later this spring, reports the BBC.
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