Major concert venue in UK city to be demolished in amazing £100million revamp | UK | News
A major music venue in Derby is to be demolished as part of a £100 million regeneration plan aimed at transforming the city centre. The Assembly Halls, which once hosted some of Britain’s biggest shows, have stood empty for more than a decade after a fire in 2014 left the building unsafe.
Once an important stop on touring tours, the venue hosted legendary names such as The Smiths, The Clash and Paul Weller in its heyday. Plans are now progressing to demolish the long-abandoned site and replace it with a large-scale redevelopment designed to breathe new life into the area. The £100 million project aims to create a “multi-purpose visitor destination” and breathe new life into the city.
A report to be tabled on April 8 makes clear that councilors have not been asked to sign off on wider capital expenditure at this stage, apart from demolition works already approved under devolved powers.
A report prepared for the Labour-led council’s cabinet suggests that around 60 per cent of the cost of the scheme will be covered by public funds, with the remaining 40 per cent expected to come from private investment.
The documents state that the project will require a “significant” level of investment, but emphasize that the site is crucial to efforts to revitalize Derby city centre.
Documents relating to the project state: “Derby is a city of economic importance, with the city region representing an economy of approximately £15bn, a major center of excellence in the UK’s advanced manufacturing and one of the UK’s most central and connected cities.”
Two developers are currently competing for the project, which is part of a wider initiative called DerbyMADE and aims to create a “multi-purpose visitor destination”.
The plans, submitted by VINCI UK Developments and Ion Property Developments, outline a scheme known as DerbyWORKS that includes a six-storey office block with space for cafes, bars or restaurants on both the ground and upper floors.
A separate element, DerbyMADE, is expected to include a new library, co-working facilities, a live music venue for approximately 400 people and additional commercial units.
Planning documents also show that the proposed DerbyHOTEL would take the form of a seven-storey, four-star development catering for up to 160 rooms.
The council has confirmed the application will go before the planning control committee later this spring BBC.
