'Station needs to be better gateway to city'

The "station masterplan" envisioned by Derby City Council

A public consultation has found residents would like the area around Derby railway station become a better gateway to the city.

Since 2022, revamping the area around the railway station has been part of Derby City Council's ambition wishlist, alongside the likes of the Market Hall reopening and the creation of the Becketwell Arena.

The authority says it would like to see changes as part of a Station Quarter regeneration scheme that has been years in the making.

The council had called for feedback on the area as it developed planning guidance to help steer its future, which is set to be signed off at a meeting later.

The most concern was raised over transport links between the station and the wider city, protecting the station's heritage, and over the heights of buildings nearby.

A report published ahead of the council's housing, strategic planning and regulatory services meeting states there was "an overriding acceptance" of changes needed to the Station Quarter, while "a golden thread" in the responses was that any scheme has to lead to "greater connectivity" between the station, city centre and Derby as a whole.

The council would like the area to be an "investment proposition" for developers

Specific concerns were raised over the scale of the Ashton Court hotel and retail plan opposite the station entrance, and the multi-storey car park proposed, said the report.

A detailed proposal for the Station Quarter regeneration is yet to be finalised.

It will form part of the city council's new Local Plan, which is expected to be adopted next year to guide a decade and a half of development.

Until then, the consultation has helped form interim planning guidance that will be signed off on Wednesday to help the city steer development around the station.

As well as helping to stop inappropriate development, the council said it would help to promote the area as "an investment proposition".