Market Hall: Plans move forward to redevelop 'tired and neglected' Derby square

An image of Osnabruck Square in Derby city centre
-Credit:Derby Telegraph


Major plans to completely redevelop the Market Hall square in Derby city centre have taken a big step forward. Plans have now been submitted to give the city’s “tired and neglected” Osnabruck Square - as it is formally named - its first big transformation since the 1980s.

The new-look historic Market Hall building is due to open in spring this year for the first time in years after undergoing a major transformation.

The £31.5 million redevelopment project is part-funded with £9.43 million from the Government’s Future High Street Fund (FHSF). It is in the second phase of the works, focusing on refurbishing the interior and developing the public space outside at Osnabruck Square.

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Derby City Council says the new Market Hall will "generate £3.64 million for the local economy every year”. And the council-led plans to redevelop the outside of the Market Hall have now been submitted via a planning application to the council’s planning officers. The square is named after Derby's twin city in Germany.

Planning documents on behalf of the city council state sprucing up the square will help “refresh the appearance” of the area. A design statement said: “The space at Osnabrück Square was last refurbished in 1985, and appears tired and neglected. Without investment, this would become even more apparent, with two adjacent projects due for completion in 2025: the refurbishment of the Market Hall, and, immediately to the south of the site, the highways improvement works along Albert Street.

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“A reorganisation of the space, and a re-surfacing with traditional, natural materials, will help refresh the appearance of the space, and create a new attractive pedestrian destination within Derby city centre.”

The proposed layout for the refurbished Osnabrück Square comprises a "processional" route leading to the Market Hall along the western edge of the site.

Pictured is the exterior of the Market Hall
How the new public realm space next to the Market Hall could look -Credit:Derby City Council

The plans include moving the area’s stone obelisk - known as the Osnabruck Milestone - to a different spot within the square as its current location “is both obstructive and potentially vulnerable to vehicle impact”. The re-positioning will help protect the monument, according to planning documents.

Last year Derby City Council leader Nadine Peatfield said: “The transformation of Derby Market Hall is a reflection of our collective ambition to create a city that everyone can take pride in. This project is not just about transforming the Market Hall. It’s about bringing the people of Derby together to create a space we can all be proud of.”

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