The country’s town and city centres were knocked for six during two years of unprecedented national lockdowns.
As the 海角视频 finally feels like it is putting Covid-19 behind it, consumer and business confidence has taken a fresh blow from spiralling prices caused by the war in Ukraine, Brexit bureaucracy and a slowdown in imports from the Far East.
The big issue now is how can the 海角视频’s regions maintain a sense of resilience and get people back into city centres while facing up to the current problems amid talk of stagflation and recession.
Derby city centre is typical of most medium sized cities and with the recent warm weather bringing people out to shop, eat and drink, one could be forgiven for thinking things were back to normal.
However the city council says it is aware of the problems businesses and residents are facing, so has launched what it is calling a “city conversation” to try and address some of those issues.
After missing out on a recent bid for City of Culture status it is drawing up plans for a “bold, transformational vision” for Derby city centre looking at longer-term ideas and interventions that will transform and “secure its future as a vibrant place that people can feel proud of and want to visit”.
The last time the city drew up a significant masterplan was six years, resulting in schemes such as the £200 million Becketwell regeneration plans which are now well under way and will include homes, public spaces and a 3,500 capacity performance venue.
It is the biggest regeneration project Derby city centre has seen since the Westfield Centre went up in 2007.
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The council says the new discussion will recognise the challenges facing all city centres, not just Derby, and provide an over-arching ‘direction-of-travel’ that could inform future plans and actions up and down the 海角视频.
The document is broken down into 12 key themes – climate change, culture, public realm, green and blue infrastructure, city living, accessibility and connectivity, heritage, design quality, learning, business and creativity, shopping and leisure, delivery and coordination.
City council leader Coun Chris Poulter said they were opening the conversation with residents, businesses and other stakeholders on Wednesday, June 8 on the Let’s Talk Derby website.
He said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to talk about what we want Derby to be in the future.
“From these discussions we’ll be creating a brand new vision for the future of our city centre. I urge everyone to take the time and share ideas for the Derby of the future.
“Whilst we need to take urgent action now to deal with the immediate challenges and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we also need a longer-term plan that addresses the structural issues that face the city centre, of which can’t be solved overnight.
“We’ll be working closely with our Team Derby partners and to get a greater understanding of what our residents and businesses would like and need to see in their city centre.
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“These conversations will be the first step towards creating a new vision which will restore its position as the heart and soul of Derby.”
A spokeswoman for the city council said it was the first time a city-wide future regeneration conversation had taken place of this size since the creation of the City Centre Masterplan in 2016.
She said: “The previous plan brought about exciting developments within the city, including the Becketwell development and Our City, Our River flood defence scheme.
“These conversations around the ambition will inform the next stage in the process for developing a new City Centre vision to be published in 2023.
“The conversation begins on Wednesday, June 8, and will run for 12 weeks over the summer on the Let’s Talk Derby website for residents, business and stakeholders to share ideas and feedback.”
Earlier this month Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Cabinet Office Minister Steve Barclay hailed Derby as an example of the Government’s levelling up agenda. Derbyshire has received £70million from the Levelling Up Fund.
He said: “Derby is a city of real vibrancy and it was fantastic to see the ambitious regeneration projects taking place across the city centre.
“The redevelopment of the Market Hall is really starting to take shape and the £15 million Future High Streets funding will help develop other parts of the St Peter’s Quarter.
“Levelling up is a central part of the Government’s ambition because we want to ensure people and communities up and down the country are able to thrive, so it was great to see how Derby has been able to access funding that will drive inward investment into the city centre and create opportunity for people.”
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