'Urban village' at site of Derbyshire Royal Infirmary site could include store, gym and business hub
THE chief executive behind a proposed "urban village" on the site of Derbyshire Royal Infirmary has revealed the development could include a convenience store, nursery, launderette, gym and a "business hub".
Most of the former DRI site was left vacant after the majority of healthcare staff and services moved to Royal Derby Hospital in May 2009.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that Derby Hospitals NHS Trust had agreed to sell eight acres of land on the site to housing developer UK Regeneration (UKR). It will apply to Derby City Council to build 300 homes for rent which it would run using its own management company.
Chief executive Jackie Sadek has now revealed how the site would include other developments particularly suited to entrepreneurs and young professionals.
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She said this could include "a business hub" which could have meeting and computer rooms. There could also be a launderette, gym, nursery and convenience store.
The size of the shop, she said, would depend on whether plans for a supermarket on the infirmary site go ahead.
Morrisons is drawing up a planning application for what the trust has said would be a 6,000 sq ft store, with 390 car parking spaces, creating about 300 jobs.
A Morrisons spokesman said the firm was not able to comment on the plans at this stage.
He said: "We're still drawing together the details for our planning application and wouldn't want to say anything officially until that has gone through."
Two other housing developments are also in the pipeline for the hospital site.
And yesterday, Derrick Conway, in charge of the scheme for the NHS, said it was also possible that extra care homes could be built there.
They are designed to allow for independent living but care staff would be on hand 24 hours a day.
Mr Conway said that who would build them depended on "which of the many organisations that currently develop and operate in this field wish to purchase the land from the trust and develop the residences".
He said the housing developments and extra care homes would make for a total of about 400 homes on the site.
The whole Derbyshire Royal Infirmary site has been renamed the Nightingale Quarter in honour of the famous Crimean War nurse who helped redevelop the infirmary's forerunner, Derbyshire General Infirmary.
UKR's scheme will preserve two towers that formed the end of early-1900s wards and statues of Florence Nightingale and Queen Victoria.
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