Latest news
More Needs to be Done to Protect our City's Heritage
Derby Civic Society has serious concerns about whether the Grade II listed Hippodrome Theatre on Green Lane was genuinely unsafe enough to justify its demolition within just 36 hours of a suspected arson attack. Our Chair, Ashley Waterhouse addressed a recent meeting with leaders of opposition groups on Derby City Council and other heritage organisations calling for an inquiry. This lack of transparency from the council has sparked fears for the future of other heritage sites in the city, including the Grade II listed Melbourne House, which also recently fell victim to an arson attack.
The David Ling Award
In honour of our former colleague David Ling, Derby Civic Society is forming "The David Ling Award". Nominations for the yearly award are sought from schools who have undertaken a project aimed at bettering their schools setting or environment or who have made a contribution in any way to a charitable cause in the local area.
The winning award of £500 is to be presented to the school in recognition of their pupils outstanding originality, hard work and enthusiasm.
The Society would be very keen for your school to take part. Details to follow soon.
The Derby Assembly Rooms
The Civic Society have been lobbying Derby City Council to reopen the Assembly Rooms ever since it shutdown after the fire in the adjacent plant room building in 2014.
The Derby Assembly Rooms is an outstanding example of modern 1970’s architecture and was designed by Sir Hugh Casson, a leading Architect of the period. Unfortunately Historic England granted Derby City Council a “ Certificate of Exemption” to prevent the building from being listed so they could do with it as they wished.
Some Members of the Civic Society do not like the architectural style of the building but we are all agreed that to demolish a perfectly good and refurbish-able large building is highly irresponsible.
Reusing and adapting what exists is acknowledged best practice to reduce carbon emissions and is by any standard just less wasteful.
A proposed design scheme for the conversion of the Assembly Rooms to accommodate the relocation of the Derby Theatre from the Derbion Shopping Centre has been carried out and costed at approximately £80 million which is too expensive for the Council to proceed in the current financial climate.
We hope that another more economical use can be found for reusing the Assembly Rooms before it is demolished. The Council have granted themselves approval to demolish the Assembly Rooms on condition that there is a new planning approval in place for a viable alternative new building. This is proving extremely difficult for them so we live in hope that they come to their senses, change their minds and find a new use for the Assembly Rooms.
Support our heritage
Help us protect Derby's unique history for future generations. Your support can make a significant difference in preserving our local heritage.