Rams unveil £7m plans to build shopping plaza
PLANS for a multi-million-pound retail and leisure scheme next to Pride Park Stadium, which would create hundreds of jobs, have been revived.
First revealed in 2007, Pride Plaza was mothballed after American owners took over Derby County.
Now the club has revealed it is to go ahead with the development, albeit a scaled-back version known as The Plaza @ Pride Park.
And bosses hope the revenue it makes could be ploughed back into improving the football team.
The project's cost has fallen from £20 million to £7 million and there will no longer be a hotel, but it could include restaurants, cafés, bars, shops and office space.
A club spokesman, speaking ahead of today's unveiling, said: "The project is different to 2007. The demands of Pride Park have altered – there are more workers and students on site – so the designs meet more of the current and future demands of the area."
Derby County will submit a revised planning application to the city council today although it is not known when work might start, if permission is given.
The club has been working with the council, which wants to build a sports venue, featuring a velodrome that would double up as a 7,000-capacity concert hall, nearby on Pride Park.
Tom Glick, the Rams' chief executive, will address councillors and dignitaries today about the plans, which will see building on the west car park side of the stadium.
The Plaza @ Pride Park has been designed to help Derby County meet football's new "fair play" rules, which mean clubs must break even over the course of a season.
If they fail to do so, they could be barred from European competitions.
The club spokesman added: "For the city, the scheme will help in attracting more sports and entertainment events, while also providing better facilities on Pride Park for current and potential businesses.
"It is believed the revenue generated by the scheme will ultimately improve the combativeness of Derby County on the field."
The club is understood to be looking at options to fund the project but no money will be diverted away from spending on the pitch.
Previous plans approved by the city council included a bank and a 165-bedroom hotel, all set in tree-lined pedestrianised squares.
It is not known how the project would affect car parking at the stadium. However, the club has already worked on green travel schemes.
Developer and former Derby County chairman Peter Gadsby welcomed the plans but said he could not comment on whether he would be involved.
Pride Plaza was first mooted when he was in control of the club.
He said: "As someone who instigated development during my time as chairman, I'm always keen to see it continues, adding value to the club.
"It also adds facilities to Pride Park that are very needed as it begins to become full."
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by misterviv
Monday, October 03 2011, 7:46PM
“I'm sure the local workforce would love a little more variety at lunchtimes, with only a Harvester plus the mandatory fast food joints, but the little independent pastymobiles that do the rounds wont like it.
If they ran a monorail from this development alongside Pride Parkway to the Cockpitt island, that would speed up transit. More practical than a tram, and a bit sexier.
There's also a spare pub lying idle.
Are you out there, Trevor harris?”
by Rob09
Monday, October 03 2011, 7:24PM
“I think you'll find that the same financial restrictions imposed on clubs in Europe will also shortly apply to the Championship.
Stephen, the whole point about having a velodrome rather than an ice stadium is that the City Council want something that Nottingham and Leicester don't have, in order to attract custom from throughout the East Midlands.”
by Andrew_Ilson
Monday, October 03 2011, 4:49PM
“Just keep developing and ignore the traffic problems that exist today...”
by tillo1
Monday, October 03 2011, 1:47PM
“"but no money will be diverted from spending on the pitch"please tell Cloughie,we need a centre forward and a centre half,for starters.Peter Gadsby would not comment whether or not he would be involved,of course he will,I would put money on it but not as much as he will,bolan.”
by tillo1
Monday, October 03 2011, 1:45PM
“"but no money will be diverted from spending on the pitch"please tell Cloughie,we need a centre forward and a centre half,for starters.Peter Gadsby would not comment whether or not he would be involved,of course he will,I would put money on it but not as much as he will,bolan.”
by stephen192
Monday, October 03 2011, 12:03PM
“I believe Pride Park stadium should be increased to 40.000 from it's 33.600 to help increase the number of supporters especially away supporters and long term plan for the stadium upto 50.000. similar to most prem groups.
Both Derby City Council and Derby County should work with each other with a concert venue an Ice stating ring, and a variety of other supports that will benefit Derby 7 days a week and linking the whole sports centre to form one unit.
Some of the funding could be provided through lottery since Derby is the worst area in the UK that have the lowest amount of money from the lottery on projects.
Lottery money, council money and money from pride park could help Derby have the best sporting facilities in the East Midlands.
The car park problem could be on land back of the wyvern centre with a foot bridge across the Derwent to the footpath that travels towards the back of Pride Park from the river path.
The footpath on the site could link to the wyvern centre near Homebase and sainsbury's that would promote cycling to and from the area”
by crocs1960
Monday, October 03 2011, 11:56AM
“But seriously, the area really needs a KFC (there is no where to buy fried chicken) plus the nearest MacDonalds and BurgerKing are miles away.”
by mark_sinfin
Monday, October 03 2011, 11:15AM
“there is still parking i think looking at the main pic (the others are the old plans!), it looks like this will be built on the grass land between the ground and the park and ride car park. ive herd the gas tanks arnt used any more so maybe that could be turned into parking?”
by Roger_S
Monday, October 03 2011, 11:10AM
“Yeah, of course we need this sort of development, especially when Sainsbury's is right next door anyway and the whole area is dotted with tacky US fast food vendors.
What they really need to do is put a multi-storey car park in there to relieve the living-hell local residents have to tolerate during home games.”
by SpiritaTenant
Monday, October 03 2011, 10:43AM
“I know someone has put on here about the parking but what worries me is where's the disabled parking for the match. It's tight as it is. With no buses for disabled (as far as I know) how are we going to get there or don't they want us now?”