Wavensmere Homes and Clowes Developments’ £75m proposal for the redevelopment of the historic Friar Gate Goods Yard have been approved by Derby City Council.
The plans involve transforming two Grade II listed buildings – the Bonded Warehouse and Engine House – into 111,275 sq ft of commercial space, including flexible offices, a health and fitness space, restaurant and café, as well as 276 homes.
The 11.5-acre site, owned by Clowes Developments, includes an elevated area adjacent to Friar Gate Bridge which will become a multi-purpose public realm and community space, with retention of some of the original railway arch facades.
Wavensmere will start on site this summer.
James Dickens, managing director of Wavensmere Homes, said: “Receiving the green light at committee for the reanimation of this significant historic landmark has been six years in the making. There has been a tremendous amount of effort by our multi-disciplinary team – working alongside Tom Clowes and Tom Morley of Clowes Developments – to get to this fantastic result.
“It is very rare to have a such a large, primely located asset of this architectural quality that has lain derelict for so long – since 1972. Bringing it back into public use will have a transformational impact on Derby’s landscape, supported by much-needed attainable city-centre housing.”
Adam McPartland, director of Glancy Nicholls Architects, said: “We are overjoyed that the required funds can now be invested into saving these distressed 150-year-old listed buildings.
“From the outset, the overarching brief from Wavensmere Homes was for a huge emphasis to be placed on exemplary placemaking. By having a mix of commercial uses within the two buildings – and opening the inaccessible site up to create a series of new linear parks – hundreds of people will be able to appreciate these heritage assets on a daily basis.”
Images © Glancy Nicholls Architects
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