Detailed plans approved for £200m scheme’s first phase

Detailed planning permission has been granted for the first phase of a £200m regeneration project in Derby.Work is now set to start in late spring at the site in the Becketwell area of the city centre.At a meeting of the Derby City Council planning committee held on Thursday 7 January, councillors considered a reserved matters planning application and voted unanimously in favour of developers St James Securities’ scheme.With detailed planning consented, the Leeds-based company will now be able to start to work-on phase one of the scheme, which includes the construction of 259 build to rent apartments on the site of the former Debenhams store on Victoria Street.A new public square on the site of the current Central United Reformed Church remains the centrepiece of the development and will also be delivered as part of the first phase.Work is already well underway to bring forward a second phase to comprise a new 3,500-capacity performance and conference venue on the site of Laurie House offices and the former Pink Coconut nightclub.Future planned phases of the scheme include a range of other complementary uses of the site including new offices and commercial space, a hotel and a multi-storey car park.Demolition of the former Debenhams store which occupied part of the site was completed last year.More than 2,000 jobs are expected to be created by the development.