ST WERBURGH'S CLOISTERS

St Werburgh's Cloisters, Friar Gate, Derby, has been a city centre landmark for centuries, but has been left derelict and decaying since its transformation into a shopping centre failed in 1995. It has been on the market since then. But now, a Derby-based company, Church Converts Ltd, has bought the 135-year lease for the Grade II*-listed building for an undisclosed amount. It is now drawing up a rescue package and could cost as much as £1m to refurbish the building. Talks will now take place between Church Converts Ltd, English Heritage, Derby City Council and the Derby Diocese, in an effort to bring the building back to life.

Derek Latham, chairman of Latham Architects, St Michael's Churchyard, off Queen Street, Derby, is a director of Church Converts Ltd. He said, "There are a number of options available to us at the moment, but the favourite at the moment is to open it up to creative industries. This would mean that media, design, fashion, architect, art and advertising-type businesses would be able to use it. I would think that it would be suitable for existing businesses that are hoping to expand. Whatever we do, we'll have discussions with English Heritage and the city council before we move forward."

Mr Latham estimated it would cost around £500,000 to repair the building and another £500,000 to convert it. The building has been partially vandalised, water drips through the roof and it has dry rot and rising damp. Mr Latham said it could take up to two years before the premises were occupied again. He said, "We're not looking for a quick-fix solution. We don't believe there is a quick fix and I would ask people to be patient with us." NatWest Bank had owned the lease of the building since 1989.

The Derby Diocese still holds the freehold and has ultimate control over the lease and, there- fore, any future use of the building. Councillor Richard Smalley, chairman of the city's planning control committee, said, "I would welcome the plans to bring the building back into use. It will help to further regenerate that area of the city and it will be good to bring life back into that building as well. It will also be good if there are employment opportunities as a result."

Russell Rigby, director of commercial property agent Innes England, of Friar Gate, which has been handling the lease sale, said, "After eight difficult years I'm very pleased that we've found the right company to take on this building." The present building dates back around 100 years and in 1984, after the congregation dwindled to 150 and £250,000 was needed for repairs, the church closed. It was converted at a cost of £500,000 and opened in 1990 as a shopping mall, which failed and closed in 1995.

A planning application was submitted to convert the church into a brasserie with indoor and outdoor seating. A number of parties have expressed a "serious" interest in the site, according to Mr Rigby. Mr Rigby said, "We have had some interesting approaches, from local operators and a couple of national operators who don't want to go to Riverlights. We're currently having very serious discussions with three people."

Mr Latham said his preferred option was to turn the church into a hub for creative businesses, but Mr Rigby said the Derby Diocese, which owns the building's freehold, and Derby City Council preferred a scheme which would generate more money to ensure its future.

The planned refurbishment is hoped to be completed by the summer of 2005. A number of floors and walls inside the church, which were built when it was turned into a shopping centre, will be ripped out and replaced with a bar area on the ground floor and a mezzanine floor to hold a restaurant.

St Werburgh's Church will be turned into Chinese buffet restaurant Wokmania. The chain has restaurants in Leeds, Newcastle, Birmingham, Sheffield, Doncaster and Brighton but Derby will be its largest, seating between 350 and 400 people and employing 35 to 40 staff. Wokmania said it was the unusual building which attracted it to Derby. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Aug/07)