Have your say on University’s proposals for new Derby Business School

Members of the public have the opportunity to be involved in the design and planning process for the University of Derby’s new Business School at a public consultation event, taking place on Thursday 2 December 2021.

The proposed development, set to be built on land adjacent to the University’s One Friar Gate Square building in the city centre, is due to open in 2024 and is projected to be the study base for over 6,000 students by 2030.

As part of the planning process, a public consultation is being held at One Friar Gate Square between 3pm and 7pm on December 2, where students, staff, members of the local community and businesses are invited to view and comment on the emerging proposals. 

For those who can’t attend the consultation event, there is an opportunity to see the plans and have their say via an online survey, which will be open from 29 November to midnight on 12 December, and can be completed here: derby.ac.uk/new-business-school

Comments, ideas and suggestions submitted as part of the consultation will be considered by the project team – which includes representatives from the University and renowned architects Stride Treglown – and have the potential to influence the final proposals as the scheme is developed in more detail.

Professor Kamil Omoteso, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dean of the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences at the University of Derby, said: “The University is working to make this vision a reality – a brand new, future-focused Derby Business School, serving as an international centre of excellence.

“The proposed development aims to provide a central hub for our business students, researchers and academics – as well as the wider business community – where they can support new ideas and strategies for global business.

“We are pleased to see plans moving forward for this development and encourage people to attend the public consultation or complete the survey, so they can see for themselves our plans for this landmark building and share any views they may have on what’s proposed.”

Cora Kwiatkowski, Divisional Director and Stride Treglown’s Sector Head of Higher Education, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to be working closely with the University of Derby to design an inspiring new home for the Business School. This important new city centre development will strengthen the University’s civic role and presence in the city.

“We look forward to applying our experience of designing similar facilities and user-centred design principles to resolve the complex design brief and create a new sustainable world-class facility.”

The new Business School is proposed to be net zero carbon in construction and operation, aligning to the University’s sustainability strategies and its low carbon expertise and research agenda.

As well as supporting student growth and diversity and increasing physical capacity to accommodate the University’s future space needs, the Business School will also improve research and development opportunities, innovation and enterprise collaboration between students, entrepreneurs, D2N2 businesses and university staff to enable business growth and unlock new market opportunities internationally.

The University intends to submit a planning application to Derby City Council for the proposed development in January 2022. Following receipt of planning permission, the development is planned to commence in November 2022 with the building set to open in September 2024.

For more information about the new Business School, visit: www.derby.ac.uk/departments/derby-business-school/new-building/