Assembly Rooms demolition given final approval

Work to demolish Derby's empty Assembly Rooms could start in 2027, after plans for the project were given final approval.

The building in Derby city centre has been closed for more than 10 years following a serious fire. Plans to regenerate the area have been in the pipeline ever since.

On Thursday, Derby City Council's Planning Control Committee gave the final green light, allowing the building to be demolished next year.

It will make way for a new multi-use building featuring a music venue, cultural/exhibition space, library, working space and meeting areas – including a rooftop bar - after plans were approved in July.

The approval to demolish the site signals the end of years of uncertainty surrounding the building's future.

A plan to knock down the Assembly Rooms was actually approved more than two years ago.

However, a condition was attached to the plans ensuring demolition could not begin until designs to replace the site were "covered by a Development Agreement with an approved time frame for its implementation".

The condition was enforced to avoid the prospect of the vacant space being left empty for some time following the demolition.

Last week, the Labour-led council announced it had completed a Master Development Agreement with ION Property Developments Limited to deliver the Market Place regeneration plans, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

Speaking to BBC Radio Derby on Friday, council leader Nadine Peatfield said she was "elated" that the plans had been given the green light.

"This has been a long journey and to get over that final hurdle, to finally move forwards and progress with the demolition and the regeneration of the Market Place, is a huge achievement," she said.

"It's taken a long time but we're there."

Peatfield said that work will soon get under way to disconnect utilities from the building and prepare groundworks for the demolition.

The demolition will then take place after Christmas, so the Festive Derby celebration can take place undisturbed.

The council leader said the work should take 12 months, but that was a "cautious" estimate.

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