Derby City Council has now completed the necessary steps to move forward with the redevelopment of the Market Place, allowing demolition plans to progress.
Earlier this year, the Council submitted an application to remove the planning conditions attached to the demolition of the former Assembly Rooms.
The conditions, which ensure that robust proposals are in place for the redevelopment of the site, required the Council to be in contract with a developer, with approved plans in place for replacing the building before work started.
At its meeting on Thursday 3 September, the Council’s Planning Control Committee agreed that these conditions had now been met, approving the application to discharge the conditions and enabling demolition of the existing buildings to proceed. This follows the signing of a Master Development Agreement between the Council and ION Property Developments Limited, and the approval of outline planning permission in July.
The committee’s decision means that demolition can take place in early 2027, starting with work to prepare the site behind the scenes before members of the public start to see activity on site to demolish the buildings.
Preparing the site, disconnecting utilities and creating a secure and safe working environment will take a number of weeks before the building can start to come down. Once work starts on the demolition, it is expected to take around 12 months to complete.
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, said:
“Finally, this was the milestone that needed to be in place to pave the way for us to begin transforming the Market Place and breathing new life into this vital area of the city centre.
“Now the planning conditions have been satisfied, we will continue to work with our development partners to take these plans forward, with residents being able to see tangible progress on site in early 2027.”
A masterplan for the site has been drawn up in consultation with residents, local organisations and key stakeholders.
Plans include Derby MADE – a multi-use building on the site of the former Assembly Rooms, featuring a music venue, cultural/exhibition space, a young people and family library, and dedicated flexible working and meeting areas. It also features proposals for Derby HOTEL, a full-service four-star hotel, and Derby WORKS, new high-quality Grade A office space.
ION Developments will continue to develop the business plan for Derby MADE, working with stakeholders and the public to refine the proposals for the building.
