Derby seeks a “Neighbourhood Manager” to boost footfall, tackle issues, and revitalize the city center amid regeneration efforts.
Nadine Peatfield, the council leader, said they will hire a “Neighbourhood Manager.” The council stated that this is important for Derby’s future, and the Labour council thinks this is a key move.
The new manager job is permanent and will earn between £43,421 and £46,464.
Peatfield said the prior leaders removed this role. She thinks the role is now vital for Derby, and the person will handle problems in the center.
This announcement matters now because the Market Hall will reopen soon after £35 million was spent to fix it.
Becketwell Live, Derby’s new £45.8 million venue, also opens soon. It will open in the spring, and shows are already planned and selling tickets.
East Street’s regeneration is ongoing through the Eastern Gateway project. They are building at the old Eagle Market site, where the Castle and Falcon pub was taken down, and a garden will make the area nicer.
Derby’s city center has struggled lately, with the pandemic hurting shops a lot. Many shops are empty now, foot traffic went down, and the Quad cut hours due to money problems.
Peatfield said there’s much to fix, mentioning cleanliness and safety. She wants a Derby to be proud of. She wants someone coordinating efforts and working with partners well to get the best results for Derby.
The new role is vital for the city center now, Peatfield said, and new funds make this possible. The funds came from the government as part of the 2024 financial deal.
Last year, at least 80 shops were for sale, with major streets having empty stores. St Peter’s Street and East Street suffered, and these shops hurt the city’s image.
Anti-social behavior worries people. Businesses wrote a letter to the council wanting more actions because problems on streets had been happening for too long. The council said there were no quick fixes and asked the public to be patient, as they needed time to make changes.