Derby design, refurbishment, and fit-out specialists DSP (Interiors) have completed work on a new home for the Derby Central United Reformed Church.
The interiors business acted as principal designers and contractors on the project in Green Lane.
It had been forced to leave its home of 56 years in Victoria House on the corner of Becketwell Lane and Victoria Street to make way for the £200 million Becketwell Regeneration scheme.
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Planning permission was granted last autumn to change part of Stuart House in Green Lane from office use to a place of worship and work started earlier this year.
Two-storeys of the flood damaged office space have now been converted into a “welcoming haven” for the church and its users.
The project team designed a new internal layout, better suited to the church’s community activities and which provides improved accessibility for the disabled and elderly, with better security.
The ground floor houses a new “sanctuary” – inspired by the original building features but with the new mechanical and electrical services exposed to create a modern look – entrance lobby and reception office.
The first floor features a combination of meeting and conference rooms, a large sports hall with creche facility, additional toilets, and a kitchen.
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DSP said it kept costs down and sourced durable materials and sustainable energy-efficient mechanical and electrical equipment.
DSP Interiors director Andy Priestley said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Central United Reformed Church on this unique project.
“We have succeeded in designing a space which will serve as a place of worship and will also provide multiple uses for the community.
“We hope the church will continue to prosper in its new home for many more years to come.”
John Brebner, regeneration project leader at Central United Reformed Church, said: “It is really important that our new facility is fully accessible in order to meet the needs of the diverse range of people who use the church’s facilities.
“DSP have done a fantastic job in incorporating this into the new design, especially the multi-purpose hall and meeting rooms.
“We’re confident our new facility will meet the needs of our congregation and the very important community services it offers.”
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Paul Morris, director of St James Securities, which are the developers for the £200 million Becketwell scheme, said: “The relocation of the Central United Reformed Church is an important step forward which will allow us to move forward with our plans to revitalise the Becketwell area.
“The work carried out by the team at DSP (Interiors) has created a first-class facility, which is much better suited to the Church’s community focussed activities.
“We hope the church will continue to serve the community as it has for many years.”
Russell Rigby, managing director of regeneration specialists Rigby and Co, said: “A successful relocation of the Central URC was critical in building momentum into the wider Becketwell project.
“A pivotal component was ensuring that Stuart House could be transformed, repurposed and fitted out quickly to meet the precise needs of the Church.
“DSP delivered an excellent outcome with a very rapid turnaround.”
DSP (Interiors) has been providing bespoke interior design and professional fit-out services since 1988.