Derby Assembly Rooms: Letter of Objection
This letter of objection was sent to Derby City Council by our Vice-Chairman Ian Goodwin on the 30th of June 2026.
Derby Assembly Rooms
You will be aware that during May there will be a planning committee meeting to consider the outline application for the Assembly Rooms site. The City Council have revised the original planning approval conditions to demolish the Assembly Rooms so that the approval of the outline application could trigger their demolition. Once the building is demolished the City Council propose to build a hotel, office block and community facilities paid for by £60 million of public money and £40 million of private finance over a long period of time potentially leaving a hole in the ground between building contracts.
The Cavendish Building Wins the 2026 ABCD Award
The Cavendish Building, home of the Derby Business School at the University of Derby, is recognised for its outstanding contribution to contemporary educational architecture and its transformative impact on the city's urban fabric. Conceived as a dynamic, future-thinking focused learning environment, the design successfully balances functionality, sustainability, and civic presence.
Former Derby School of Art Added to the Victorian Society's Top Ten Endangered Buildings List 2026
The former Derby School of Art on Green Lane is a Grade II* listed Victorian building that has recently been named one of the UK's most endangered buildings by the Victorian Society.Originally completed in 1876 as Municipal Technical College, the striking Gothic-style structure was constructed using distinctive pink granite from Matlock. Over its 150-year history, the building has served various prominent roles in Derby's cultural and educational life. It operated under several names, including the Derby Central School of Art and the Derby Municipal Technical College, before eventually becoming an annexe for the University of Derby. It was famously home of the Metro Cinema from 1981 to 2006, an independent arthouse venue that later moved to Quad in the city centre. Following a period of vacancy, it reopened in 2012 as a rehearsal space for Derby Theatre. In 2021 it was sold to New Vision University, based in Georgia, with proposals to establish a medical school. However, the building appears never to have been brought back into active use.As a result, this Grade II* listed building now stands empty once again, with no clear timetable for its reuse. Its continued vacancy places it at risk of deterioration and represents a significant missed opportunity for the city.The Victorian Society is calling for urgent clarity on the building’s future. As a prominent and adaptable structure with a strong civic identity, it has clear potential to serve a new purpose. What is needed now is a realistic and deliverable plan to bring it back into use before further decline sets in.
Melbourne House: A Derby Landmark at Risk
Melbourne House, built in 1863, for the self‑made paint and varnish manufacturer Alderman Robert Pegg, HP (1801-1867) is on the top of our list for endangered buildings in the City.
A Historic Treasure at Risk: The Deterioration of Rowditch Barracks
Rowditch Barracks, built in 1859 for the Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers, is one of Derby’s most unusual and historically significant military sites. Grade II listed, it stands as a rare and remarkably complete example of a 19th‑century volunteer barracks.