Geldards advises city council on phase two of £200m regen scheme

Law firm Geldards has advised Derby City Council on the latest stage of the £200m Becketwell regeneration scheme.

Geldards said: “As a firm, we have been providing legal advice to the council on its regeneration of the Becketwell area for some time, and construction is already underway on Phase One to transform the former Debenhams site with 259 built to rent apartments.”

Legal agreements have been completed and demolition has now started on Phase Two which will include the development of a 3,500 capacity performance venue to be owned by the council and managed by ASM Global.

Geldards’ Public Sector team has advised the city council on all legal aspects of the Becketwell regeneration scheme since the local authority acquired the former Debenhams site in 2017.

Partner Tiffany Cloynes, who heads the Public Sector team at Geldards, led a team of over 10 lawyers. Supported by property partner Paul Hilsdon and also by Senior Associates Rebecca Gilbert and Clare Hardy, Geldards advised on a wide range of complex legal issues for the benefit of the project from across the firm’s Commercial Property, Planning, Construction and Tax departments.

Cloynes said: “Geldards is pleased to have played such a significant role in this major regeneration project for Derby City Council which will be transformational for the city centre. The work was complex and multi-faceted and required a great deal of specialist legal advice, but we were delighted to be able to work so closely and effectively with the council’s very supportive in-house team.”

Paul Simpson, Chief Executive at Derby City Council, said: “Becketwell Performance Venue is a landmark development for Derby. It will see the council funding and owning the 3,500 capacity venue with St James Securities delivering the development and ASM Global becoming the operators on a long term lease.

“The deal is key to putting culture at the heart of regeneration in our city, generating an additional £10m a year for the area and diversifying the local economy. Geldards were a key member of the council’s delivery team and instrumental in developing the partnership.”