Developers St James Securities have won another prestigious award for their £200m Becketwell scheme in Derby.
The Leeds-based company won the coveted Developer of the Year award at this year’s East Midlands Property Dinner (EMPD) Awards, which took place at the De Vere East Midlands Conference Centre.
St James Securities beat off competition from developers HBD and ALB Group to win the award, which showcases property developers who have made a visible impact in the East Midlands over the past 12 months.
SJS also received a commendation for Deal of the Year for their deal to bring a new £45.8m performance venue to the city.
The £200m Becketwell regeneration scheme in Derby is the most significant urban regeneration scheme in the city for more than three decades. Over the past 12 months, significant progress has been made on phases one and two of the scheme.
Construction work began in July 2021 on phase one of the scheme, which features the city’s first ever purpose-built, Build to Rent (BTR) scheme – 259 high-quality apartments on the site of the former Debenhams store on Victoria Street in Derby.
The scheme will be funded, acquired, and operated Grainger plc, market leaders in the UK build to rent and private rented sector.
The apartments will be adjacent to a new public square, which is the centrepiece of the development – both are set to be completed by early 2023.
Work is underway to bring forward phase two – a new £45.8m, 3,500 capacity performance venue, which is being forward funded and will be owned by Derby City Council and leased to and operated by ASM Global, the world’s leading venue management and services company, and producer of live experiences.
The purpose-built venue will be a fully flexible, scalable space and stage a range of concerts, including stand-up comedy, musical theatre, conferences, and other business events.
In February 2022, Peveril Securities were announced as development partners for future phases of the scheme.
Demolition work began in March 2022, with construction work to commence in January 2023 and completion and handover to the operator in late 2024.
Future planned phases of the scheme include new grade A offices and commercial space, a hotel and a multi-storey car park and purpose-built student residential.
Speaking of winning the Developer of the Year award, Oliver Quarmby, managing director of St James Securities, said:
“To win the Developer of the Year award is a tremendous achievement and a real vote of confidence in the work we are doing in Derby.
“The Becketwell regeneration scheme will be transformational for the city of Derby. The BTR scheme will enable hundreds of people to live in high-quality homes in the heart of the city. It will revitalise this long-neglected area of the city and contribute to improving the overall vibrancy and attraction of the city centre.
“Our exciting performance venue will bring an outstanding, modern arena to the city, which will fill a significant gap in the city’s cultural landscape and will be key to the future reinvigoration and repositioning of Derby city centre.”
Now in their 22nd year, the EMPD Awards celebrate the success and achievements of companies in the property sector throughout the East Midlands.
Funding for the Becketwell project includes £8.1 million in Local Growth Fund investment from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, the private sector-led partnership of business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community and voluntary services which works to promote economic and jobs growth across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire.
