Specialist contractor, Cawarden, has officially completed the demolition works of the former Debenhams store and the handover of the site that will soon be home to the Becketwell development, took place yesterday (18 August) in Derby city centre.
The site was officially handed back to Derby City Council by William Crooks, Cawarden’s Managing Director.
Cawarden, which is headquartered in Ockbrook, near Derby, was the principal contractor for the demolition of the four-storey building to clear the way for a £200 million regeneration project for Becketwell.
With the site now back in the hands of the City Council, Engineering consultancy Rodgers Leask will now begin work on the ground investigation for the high-rise apartments which form part of the development.
Becketwell Redevelopment
D2N2 is allocating £8.1 million from its Local Growth Fund allocation to the redevelopment of the Becketwell site in Derby subject to the approval of a final business case.
Commercial regeneration of the Becketwell site, in Derby city centre, has been an ambition of Derby City Council for years; and it is a key project in its City Centre Masterplan.
Becketwell, once a busy shopping area, includes Duckworth Square and the former Debenhams department store (which closed more than ten years ago).
Previous attempts to redevelop the site have been unsuccessful.
When completed, the Becketwell development will boast 342 apartments in two main residential buildings, up to 25,000 square metres of business space, a new public square for the city centre with a hotel, restaurants, and cafes around the square, plus a 500-space pay-and-display car park.
The scheme will also feature the reinstatement of Summerhill Yard, and the heritage focussed enhancement of the area adjoining the Hippodrome.
Councillor Matthew Holmes, Deputy Leader at Derby City Council, said: “The completion of the demolition is a significant achievement for the Becketwell site.”
“The area has been in need of regeneration for decades and this is a fantastic step forward in our plans to transform Derby’s city centre.”
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