£7M FACELIFT FOR SQUARE

The former Debenhams building is to reopen as a furniture superstore. Star Furnishings, of Long Eaton, is moving into the building, which has been empty since Debenhams moved to the Westfield Centre. A number of developers had expressed an interest in buying the building, which is owned by Westfield, but the recession has made investors shy away from large-scale schemes. Westfield is still searching for someone to buy the building.

John Ryder, Star Furnishings managing director, said, "We have taken a short-term lease on the whole building but we could be here for two or three years until someone comes along to buy it." Star Furnishings specialises in selling furniture produced for major retailers which has become surplus to requirements, including returned stock, cancelled orders and bankrupt stock from firms that have gone bust, such as MFI.

About a quarter of the space on the ground floor in the new store will be taken by Derby discount furniture retailer Silly Sid's, which has its base in Balaclava Road, Pear Tree. Negotiations are also under way for Star Furnishings to bring in other homeware and furniture retailers, expanding the range of goods on offer to include blinds, carpets, curtains, objets d'art, bespoke furniture and kitchens. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Jun/09)

A Multi-million-pound redevelopment of Duckworth Square was given the go-ahead. The £7m proposal for a European-style piazza surrounded by bars, restaurants and a nightclub was approved by the city council's planning control committee. London-based developer Mixend planned to demolish Duckworth Square and turn the one-acre site into an urban entertainment centre, to be called Exchange Square. Councillor Sara Bolton, council cabinet member for planning and prosperity, said, "This is a welcome application in view of what we are doing in the rest of Derby." One comment that says it all really - Derby city centre NEEDS more bars !!!!

Plans fell through after developers pulled out because of lack of interest from major bar chains. London-based developer Mixend had planned to pack the one-acre, city-centre site behind Debenhams department store in Victoria Street with trendy bars and restaurants. But Mixend has now sold the site to the Nottingham-based housing association, Metropolitan Housing Trust (MHT), for an estimated £2m.

The association plans to apply for planning permission to build low-cost housing on the site. Mixend's agent, Russell Rigby, director of Innes England in Friar Gate, Derby, said, "A lot of work had gone into attempting to attract national pub and club chains to the site but, at the moment, they seem to be focusing on bigger cities such as Leeds. And, at the end of the day, the developers were made a very good offer for the land."

Mixend also felt that the site would play second fiddle to the controversial Riverlights complex on the site of Derby's bus station, said Mr Rigby. The boarded-up 1960s shopping centre, which had become a haven for drug addicts, had already been demolished by Mixend. Derby City Council had hoped that the scheme would bring regeneration to the Becket Well area, as part of Cityscape - a £275m blueprint for regeneration.

The old Duckworth Square site had also been shortlisted as one of five potential locations for Derby City Council's new home. David Hill, from MHT, said that the organisation hoped to work with Cityscape directors to redevelop the area. Cityscape chief executive John Cadwallader said, "We're not deterred when obstacles like this are put in our way. We want to encourage more housing in the city centre, so the proposals fit in with our intentions."

MHT is discussing the possibilities for the site, such as what homes will be built, with urban regeneration company Derby Cityscape and Derby City Council. David Hill said, "We believe our acquisition will assist Cityscape in achieving its aims of regenerating the Becket Well area." With the area now flattened and the council having made known it's interest in the site, which has conveniently become available, maybe Duckworth Square will become a six-storey, custom built, office block incorporating a basement carpark for the council.

The regeneration of the Becket Well area of Derby city centre is edging ever closer as a £7m plan to replace Duckworth Square with a leisure complex is set for approval. After years of decay, the derelict shopping precinct could soon be redeveloped as a European-style piazza surrounded by bars, restaurants and a nightclub. The plans, which have been submitted by London-based developer Mixend, are expected to be approved by Derby City Council's planning control committee.

Mixend wants to demolish Duckworth Square - currently boarded up to keep out rough-sleepers and drug-users - and use the one-acre site for an "urban entertainment centre" called Exchange Square. Exchange Square would be an L-shaped complex covering 45,000 sq ft, with a mixture of one and two storeys and a landscaped piazza. It would have space for bars, restaurants and a nightclub.

Mixend believes that the development would help to regenerate the run-down Becket Well area. Jonathan Gold, director of Mixend, said, "Exchange Square is an exciting development that is set to become a vibrant leisure experience which will complement the rest of the city's busy night-time circuit." He said that, subject to planning permission being granted, demolition would be under way shortly, with construction work starting in September. The official opening of Exchange Square is planned for autumn, 2004.

Russell Rigby, director of Innes England, joint agents for the scheme, said, "Strong interest has already been shown from both national bar and leisure operators and a number of independents." The precinct, which was developed in the late 1960s, has been in a state of disrepair for several years. The future of the site has been in limbo for more than five years, since Mixend purchased it in 1997 with ideas for a £100m leisure and shopping centre.

But the plans came to nothing and Mixend put the site up for sale at £1.5m, before having a change of heart and deciding to develop the site as part of Derby Cityscape. Cityscape, a £225m blueprint for regeneration in the city centre, identifies Becket Well as one of five key areas for regeneration. The plans have been recommended for approval by Mike Kaye, the council's assistant director of development and cultural services, in a report to the planning control committee.

It states: "There is no doubt that the removal of the existing premises is a considerable benefit for the area. It will lead to a considerable improvement in the locality and, hopefully, a significant boost to this area."

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