Place Projects - 24 January 2018

Derby picks its new music and performance venue

A new 3,000 seat music and performance venue is now a step closer for Derby City Centre.

Derby City Council formally agreed the new Derby music and performance venue project could go ahead, at a budget-setting meeting last night (January 24). The new venue – to replace the Assembly Rooms, which has been closed since a major fire there in March 2014 – will cost an estimated £32million.

Anticipated funding for the venue includes Council borrowing and a further £8.6million from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), subject to Derby City Council submitting a detailed business plan.

D2N2 is the private sector-led LEP for the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire area. It works with partners to grow its area’s economy and create jobs. It has a £200m-plus allocation of Local Growth Fund money from Government to part-fund infrastructure projects which directly support the local economy, which the performance venue promoters would apply to.

A new Derby music and performance venue, as part of a Derby City masterplan, was one of a number of projects listed in the D2N2 Growth Deal 3 bid publication (PICTURED), launched at the D2N2 LEP Annual Conference in July 2016, which set out what the LEP hoped to do with Local Growth Fund Round 3 money it was then bidding for from the Government.

The new performance venue will provide theatre space, room for music gigs and be a business conference facility.

A four week public consultation to choose what kind of new facility the city should have was launched in November 2017, receiving 1,006 responses. Respondents said it should be a regeneration priority, to allow Derby to offer a good range of culture options in the city centre.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy Cllr Martin Rawson said: “Derby is already the 3rd fastest growing city-economy in the UK.  This new venue is a game changer and a catalyst for further investment that will help us build our economy for the benefit of all.

“This option will also complement plans by the University of Derby for expansion of the Derby Theatre and, from a financial perspective, the Music & Performance Venue is the best investment for the Council.”

Peter Richardson, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “As well as places to work and do business, places of music, performance and culture are also important parts of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire area and its economy. The D2N2 area has some fantastic cultural offerings and I am confident that this music and performance venue will be another gem in the cultural crown of our area, as well as providing an economic boost to Derby through the creation of a new visitor attraction.”

The next steps are to choose a project contractor, develop an outline design for the new facility, for promotors to submit a full business case to bid to draw on D2N2 LGF funding, and also to explore additional funding opportunities from public and private sources.

A full planning application for the new venue is due to be submitted in 2019, with demolition and construction due to begin in 2020. The current expected opening date opening date for the venue is 2022/23.

Further information about the D2N2 LEP and its work can be obtained from D2N2 Communications Manager Sean Kirby on 0115 957 8749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org 

Latest News & Events

19 July 2024

Local business support boosted with launch of Early Stage Angel Investment Fund

Read Article

21 June 2024

Spotlight on our Board: Scott Knowles, Chief Executive, East Midlands Chamber, on the D2N2 LEP transition and East Midlands devolution

Read Article

11 June 2024

The D2N2 LEP staff team joins the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA)

Read Article

07 June 2024

Becky Rix, Marketing Director at Roadgas, explains why Roadgas is a proud member of the East Midlands Hydrogen Consortium

Read Article

05 June 2024

Spotlight on our Board: D2N2 LEP Board Member Natasha Johnson, Director of Partnerships at Global Entrepreneurs UK

Read Article

05 June 2024

Free Expert Business Advice and Support available through East Midlands Chamber’s Accelerator Programme

Read Article

03 June 2024

Spotlight on our Board: D2N2 LEP Board Member Professor Edward Peck CBE, Vice-Chancellor and President, Nottingham Trent University

Read Article

24 May 2024

Focus on the East Midlands: our time is NOW!

Read Article

24 May 2024

D2N2 LEP CEO, Will Morlidge, shares our East Midlands Hydrogen ambitions at UKREiiF

Read Article

24 May 2024

East Midlands Freeport and Freeport East Sign Green Freight Corridor Initiative at UKREiiF

Read Article

Get in touch.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up
Address

D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership
8 Experian Way
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG2 1EP

Social

Our Partners