Wavensmere Homes Strikes Deal with Wilson Bowden for Prime Derby Riverside Site

Wavensmere Homes has struck a deal for one of the final plots of development land within the newly revitalised Cathedral Quarter in Derby City Centre. The Birmingham-headquartered housebuilder has exchanged contracts for the vacant site - located off Full Street - with Wilson Bowden Developments.

The site was initially earmarked for an office development of up to 100,000 sq ft, but it will now be brought forward by Wavensmere Homes for an apartment scheme, benefiting from a vibrant location along the River Derwent, with views of the 16^th Century Derby Cathedral and its 212ft tower. Also lying adjacent to the site is the Museum of Making at the restored Derby Silk Mill, which re-opened to the public in 2021.

Phase One of Wilson Bowden's Full Street development includes; the refurbishment of the Riverside Chambers office complex; delivery of 46 new apartments at Number One Cathedral Green; and a Premier Inn hotel. A planning application for the next striking addition to the multi-million-pound Cathedral Quarter will be submitted by Wavensmere Homes and Wilson Bowden, in consultation with Derby City Council and a range of stakeholders.

James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes, said: "This site is one of the best located within Derby city centre, with rich views of the Cathedral Quarter and the River Derwent. Derby is a walkable city, and the significant investment in the public realm has seen it become a vibrant and cosmopolitan place to live, work, and visit.

"There is an increasingly strong appetite for city living here, and the development of this vacant site will transform a local eyesore into a high quality, architecturally designed building that adds significant value to this prized and popular part of the city. We look forward to working up our plans over the coming months."

Wavensmere Homes will incorporate the latest green energy features into the design for the new homes, to enable a high EPC rating to be targeted. The development proposals will also be compliant with the new Part L building regulations. The designs for the Full Street site will promote sustainable development through the use of low carbon materials, modern methods of construction, and renewable energy generation.

Henry Henson, Development Manager for Wilson Bowden Developments, said: "We have selected to partner with Wavensmere Homes, as the team has a strong understanding and track record of the requirements of Derby's city residential market. We are very proud of the cluster of new buildings we have delivered within the Cathedral Quarter over recent years and look forward to working with Wavensmere Homes on the plans for this project, which will complete the jigsaw of this prime Derby city centre location."

Derby's array of city centre shops, amenities and attractions are located within moments of the site on Full Street, with Derby Train Station being one mile away, and reachable by foot and public transport in under 10 minutes. Regular services to London St Pancras take less than 90 minutes, while trains to Birmingham city centre take 34 minutes.

Wavensmere Homes has become one of Derby's most prominent residential developers, with the £175m multi-award-winning Nightingale Quarter becoming one of the finest regeneration and restoration assets in the region. The former Derby Royal Infirmary on London Road – which had laid derelict for a decade – has been transformed into a vibrant new community, including over 900 houses and apartments.