Derby City Council will only buy 'eyesore' Duckworth Square site as a last resort, says leader

“Yes, JonBoyWalton, we did have a city centre bowling alley. It was where the nightclub was on Colyear street. I remember playing there in the Top Rank Junior League. I was (and still am) to Ten pin bowling what Cliff Thorburn was to Darts.”

“Allentown - Duckworth Square never thrived. I don't even think the Black Prince Cinema did very well before Duckworth Square.

the Wimpy Bar and the record shop filled a niche - but the Jon Bryan Clothes Shop soon failed. Even the Tesco didn't last long. No - it didn't thrive.”

“Allentown - Duckworth Square never thrived. I don't even think the Black Prince Cinema did very well before Duckworth Square.

the Wimpy Bar and the record shop filled a niche - but the Jon Bryan Clothes Shop soon failed. Even the Tesco didn't last long. No - it didn't thrive.”

“Allentown - Duckworth Square never thrived. I don't even think the Black Prince Cinema did very well before Duckworth Square.

the Wimpy Bar and the record shop filled a niche - but the Jon Bryan Clothes Shop soon failed. Even the Tesco didn't last long. No - it didn't thrive.”

“The architecture and concrete construction was hideous and was an eyesore when built. Council should require open spaces like this should be either landscaped with grass, or tarmac for parking, until sold and new construction starts.
A village square pedestrian area with stores at ground level with high end 2 bed, 2 bath flats above.The appeal would be for young professionals or retired professionals who want a village feel with in a city. There should be a Tesco Express, a gym, a pub, a restaurant, a mini 50 seat movie house with coffee shop. This accommodation would be for people with out cars (they rent one when need one).
Derby needs to develop a safe bike path through the city that allows people to bike throughout the town and allow them to get out of town to rural areas.”

“I think the council should start thinking outside the box. A car park? Why would anyone need to park a car around there? The only activity around that part of the city centre is at night and most of those people are too drunk to drive.

Perhaps the council should offer a council tax/rates break for 5-10 years for anyone who opens up a business or an office in the dead part of the city centre. Offices (filled with people) would attract footfall, which would attract day time trade, cafes, papershops, other retailers who'd suddenly realise there are people who work/live/travel in this part of the city.

This site could probably be then sold as a mix of flats/shops/offices? Maybe the council could build there in the future? Babington Lane could do with some help too. The university own a cinema/threatre, why not show classic movies there? Or try an attract immigrant communities with the occasional asian/eatern european shows?”

“Derby City Council should have built the 'Council House' on the Duckworth Sq site this would have given them a state of the art facility and regenerated an area that has been decimated by the Westfield developement

The old council house could have been sold to a developer to convert into luxury riverside apartments which in some way would've helped off-set the cost

I can only imagine that this did not happen as the council HQ would be hidden and therefore not high profile enough for our beloved bleeders, sorry i meant to say leaders.

Every time the cost of the council house refurb is mentioned by the DT it never counts the actual cost which is in the region of 90million ( the council house has been mortgaged to pay for the refurb)

We are run by a bunch of clowns who do not do what is best for the people of this city.

Duckworth Sq used to be a thriving shopping area until the eagle centre was built in the early seventies. Now Westfield have caused even more casualties.

Vision in this city seems to stretch to about 30 years is that what future life expectancy will be”

“DerbyBorn "I had forgotten about the car-park under the old bowling alley"

Derby had a bowling alley? A city centre activity for all the family. Wish it still did...”

“Here is Russell Rigby's current marketing of Duckwirth Square:

"The subject site sits adjacent to the newly designated St Peter's Business Improvement District – an interesting popular shopping/leisure destination, predominantly identified by independent retails.

The site is a very short distance from Cathedral Quarter, this was Derby's first BID and is now a thriving shopping, leisure and entertainment destination. Specifically, the site comprises a former 1960's shopping centre, now cleared of buildings and offering extensive potential for a range of planning uses. Derby City Council – the Local Planning Statutory Authority, view this site as a priority redevelopment opportunity – see later.

Planning The site is currently without any specific detailed Planning Consent – the last Outline Planning Consent granted was for a 120,000 sq ft mixed-use leisure complex in 2004. As part of Derby's ongoing Regeneration cycle, Derby City Council are currently putting the finishing touches to a newly adopted Masterplan for Regeneration and Redevelopment in the City Centre. One of the key corporate priorities already identified by the Local Authority (and subsequently endorsed by a Consultation) is a comprehensive improvement and modernisation of the Becketwell Development Area, within which the subject site sits.
The site is considered to have potential for an extremely wide range of commercial and residential uses, including retail, leisure, offices and housing. Interestingly the topography of the site also lends itself to high rise developments. The owners of the site and Rigby & Co are liaising closely with Derby City Council's Regeneration Team – Derby City Council have indicated that they would wish to gain afull understanding early of any development proposals for this site".”

“Duckworth Squre sits on the boundary of Derby's newset conservation arean the housing on Macklin Street, mainly occupied by students, is listed Victorian terraces of architectural value.
Thanks to the new St. Peters Quarter and the newly designated Green Lane Conservation Area, the Duckworth Square sypte has been acknowledged as having greater potential. It was reported by Russel Rigby Estate Agency that the old Debenhams store has been sold to a company with a large retail portfolio, the current occupiers gave a two year lease on the property so we do not know what the building will be used for or by whom.

Green Lane has gad a few million pounds spent on it over the oast twelve months or so, but we need to see restrictions placed by Westfield, lifted and retail units ooening in the area. Moving the post Office from Vuctiria Street will not help the situation, this is something the Council needs to consider when granting planning applications.

One of Derby's failings has been the demolition of so much if the city's built heritage, mostly during the 1960scand 70s, which resulted in developments that lasted 30 to 40 years before being demolished themselves. Jyst a brief look at Derby's old photos us enough to show us how short sighted the planners were during the period.”