Local retail agents gathered at an agents’ breakfast event on Thursday 12 December to learn about the huge potential of Nottingham’s Derby Road.
Derby Road has recently received a grant of £10,000 from the High Street Innovation Fund and at the event agents were informed about how this money would be spent, the area and the types of units available.
As part of the event held at Derby Road’s renowned Warsaw Diner, agents were able to take a look around some of the road’s independent shops to understand their full potential.
Charles Trafford, director of Trafford Oliver chartered surveyors said: “The agent’s breakfast was a great idea as it helped us to rediscover the Derby Road area. It was very encouraging to hear of the plans in place and the work already being done.
“Derby Road has the ability to bring a lot to Nottingham – the city would benefit from a quirky, alternative shopping area which many other places in the UK have embraced. The vacant properties have a lot to offer and it would be great to see them put to good use.”
Agents were also taken on a tour of the some of the street’s vacant properties and were guided by Mona Walsh of Nottingham Regeneration Limited and Jonathan Jones of Nottingham City Council’s property department.
Mona Walsh, of Nottingham Regeneration Limited said: “The Agents’ breakfast was a great success and gave us the opportunity to showcase some of the available properties in Nottingham. Derby Road really has a great buzz about it and it was fantastic to highlight this to local property agents.”
One of the main aims of the pilot regeneration project is to encourage new and existing retailers to move to or expand into the areas available properties. .
Advice is also being sought from city architect David Franklin to understand how to improve the look and feel of Derby Road’s buildings.
Stuart Isbister heads the Derby Road Regeneration Steering Group which helped to organise the agents’ breakfast event. He also owns local business, The Worm That Turned, one of the shops which was opened to the agents.
Stuart said: “A priority for the funding is to look at how we encourage more businesses to move to the Derby Road area and this event has hopefully enabled the agents to see what we have to offer. It was a brilliant opportunity to illustrate what can be gained once the area is refreshed.
“Many traders were attracted to set up in the area because of its boutique mix of businesses which include hair salons, pubs and restaurants and independent retailers selling vintage clothing, wines and home items. We hope to gain more tenants and businesses so we can expand the variety of Derby Road shops.”
Under the umbrella brand ‘Derby Road NG1’, a series of events, marketing collateral and profile raising activity is planned to encourage take up of units for retailers, start-ups and businesses. Stuart added: “We have been trading from Derby Road for eight years and regularly have city shoppers coming in who say they never knew we were here. There are many hidden gems in this area of town and we are pleased to have the backing of this scheme to help us shout louder about what is here and exactly how much we have to offer.”
As well as the agents’ breakfast, customers were encouraged to visit the shops along Derby Road by being offered discounts as part of the ‘Derby Road Dot Day’.
