£7M FACELIFT FOR SQUARE

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.