Becketwell - is this the one?

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After many a false start, we finally have plans on the table for a comprehensive redevelopment of the Becketwell area.

View of the development from The Strand

The initial planning application is for two residential buildings to replace the old Debenhams and the United Reformed Church buildings on Victora Street, the tallest of which will be 19 storeys in height.

View of the development on Victoria Street

One of the blocks would contain 246 apartments with a café use on the ground level, while the second block would contain 96 apartments over a commercial retail unit. They would be build to rent apartments and feature residents lounge areas and a roof terrace. Car parking is provided at the rear.

The 19 storey residential tower overlooking a new public square

The development would overlook a new public square and would be the first element to be developed in the 'Becketwell' area that will also cover the former Pennine Hotel building, Duckworth Square and buildings on Colyear Street.

The area behind Green Lane will also be developed with conversions and finer grain development fronting onto another smaller public square, called Summerhill Yard (the site’s historical street name).

The proposed development showing the wider Becketwell area

The residential element is a detailed application and once in development it is proposed that other detailed planning applications will follow. Possible uses for the rest of the site include more residential, offices, a multi-storey car park, an innovation and a leisure centre, with the vision that a new part of the city will be created.

So far the application has seen unprecedented support from businesses and the public with many commenting on the City Councils planning portal that this is a once in a generation opportunity to develop the area that should not be missed.

Other potential applications for the site could be for more offices

Various proposals put forward to regenerate this Derby area in the past have all failed, largely due to the fragmented way in which the land is owned and the manner in which the plans were structured, and therefore the lack of a comprehensive delivery programme. I blogged about this back in 2013.

But this scheme seems to tick all the boxes. Could this be the one?

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