Green light in plan put forward for former Derby city centre restaurant
New plans have been announced for the premises of a former Thai restaurant in Derby city centre, which is set to help people rebuild their lives. Derby City Council has approved planning permission for the Safe and Sound charity to be based at the former Thai Dusit building, in Bold Lane.
The site is next to Greek restaurant Zorba and the Electric Daisy outdoor garden space, as well as being adjacent to the council-owned Bold Lane multi-storey car park.
Safe & Sound is a charity formed in 2002 in Derby and supports young people in Derbyshire who have been victims of exploitation by providing "high-quality" tailored one-to-one support to people at risk across the county. The building, which has been empty since 2022, will soon become a new headquarters base for the charity and a community hub for young people and their families affected by child exploitation.
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Derby-based firm Davlyn Construction has been appointed by the charity to carry out the refurbishment, with the offices expected to be complete around Easter time. It will include a ground-floor community hub where young people and families can access an expanded range of support services and activities to help them rebuild their lives.
The other two floors will include space for one-to-one and group support, meetings and workshops, as well as office accommodation for Safe and Sound’s team and volunteers who are based there. There will also be provision for other local charities to use space to deliver their services.
The charity’s CEO Tracy Harrison said: “The Bold Lane premises will be an amazing centrally-located community asset and safe space for children and young people who are at risk of exploitation as well as their families. Since the confirmation of funding last year, we have been busy scoping out the work that needs to be done and choosing a contractor through a competitive tender process.
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“Davlyn Construction really understand our vision for creating a flexible, safe and welcoming space for our young people and families as well as staff and volunteers. There is a lot of work to be done but we are excited to see the refurbishment work develop and to start planning our official opening this spring.”
Derby City Council approved the planning application on January 30. A planning officer report states: “Even though the site does not contain dedicated off-street parking provision, Bold Lane car park exists immediately opposite the application site. Given the sustainable location I am satisfied highway and parking related impacts would be negligible.
“In dealing with this application the city council has worked with the applicant/agent in a positive and proactive manner and has secured appropriate and proportionate improvements to the scheme which relate to the front elevation.”
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