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Search forGlass extension plans for Derby Cathedral would pull more visitors
Thursday, July 17, 2008, 07:30
Derby Cityscape, which has unveiled artist's impressions of the revamp, said that the back and sides of the Cathedral currently attracted anti-social behaviour due to a lack of activities.
But Nick Corbett, the urban regeneration company's urban design manager, believes a glass extension at the building's rear entrance, linking to the new-look Cathedral Green, would help to make the area more attractive.
He said: “The Cathedral itself is a landmark that naturally in a city people gravitate towards, so the idea is that, when they get here and have looked around the Cathedral, there is a range of things to do around the building.
“The building is Grade I-listed and it will be a huge challenge to build this extension.”
The extension would lead on to Full Street and is just one of Derby Cityscape's designs for developing the streets and squares between the city's Cathedral Quarter, the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, the River Derwent and the planned new Riverlights bus station.
This week members of the public and staff at Derby Cathedral, who had no input into the plans, were given the chance to see the proposals for the first time.
Clergy at the Cathedral said they were now keen to find out what people thought of the extension.
The Venerable Christopher Cunliffe, acting dean of the Cathedral, said: “We are delighted that Cityscape has such positive aspirations for this area of the city and we are largely supportive of the proposals.
“We were told last week about the exhibition and so I went along.
“I haven't had any feedback from the congregation yet but I was certainly very interested in the ideas.”
Yesterday, the plans met with a mixed reaction in Derby.
Jim Scott, 31, of Five Lamps, said: “It looks good and I'll be happy to see it. Some people might say they don't want modern things but it will bring a different look to the area.”
But others were not so impressed.
Jen Macfarlane, 24, an occupational therapist living in the city centre, said: “I don't know if changing the cathedral from having a little door to a big door will make much difference.”
Bill Kenyon, 76, and his wife, Anne, 73, of Allestree, former lecturers at Wilmorton College, were happy with the way the Cathedral is now.
Mr Kenyon said: “The Cathedral is enough for us. We don't need all these new things.”
The Cathedral is now proposing to consult members of its congregation on the plans.
Funding for the plans would also have to be found before any work could go ahead and the cost is not yet known.
