The first in a series of public realm and active travel improvements for Derby has been completed.

St Peter’s Street, Babbington Lane, and Gower Street have undergone a major upgrade to enhance their appearance, allow for more sustainable transport options, and reduce congestion and pollution in the city centre.

These works are part of Nottingham and Derby’s Transforming Cities programme and delivered by Eurovia Infrastructure Ltd on behalf of Derby City Council.

The works are funded by the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund. Working in partnership, Nottingham City and Derby City Councils secured £161 million to invest in local transport infrastructure that will improve sustainable transport, support growth, and encourage more low carbon journeys.

With the works around St Peter’s Street complete, attention can turn to the schemes that are either currently underway or in the works. This scheme is the first of many Transforming Cities-funded projects to be completed in Derby, including:

  • Station Road
  • The Morledge
  • Victoria and Albert Street

The sustainable transport improvements are clear to see, with a new high contrast, off-the-road cycle lane an obvious change. The bus stops in the area have also been set back from the road to allow traffic to continue moving, reducing congestion and pollution in this central area.

The Council’s Access, Equality and Inclusion Hub have played an active role in developing this scheme and particular attention has been paid to access for wheelchair and mobility scooter users. A series of new and improved blue badge bays were installed on Gower Street, along with improved crossing points being installed and unnecessary street furniture being removed.

The works have also seen the installation of the latest ‘Living Roof’ bus stops in Derby. These stops offer more than just a place for passengers to wait as they are topped with wildflower and Sedum plants: all favourites for bees and other insects. These are coupled with a number of new planters and trees that have been added around the area.

Speaking about the upgrades, Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said:

I am delighted to see works completed in this busy area of the city. With these upgrades people should now be able travel through this part of Derby quickly, safely and sustainably.

We have the potential to deliver real improvements to the way people get around Derby, but in doing that it is important that we continue to champion green initiatives.

There is still much more to come from the Transforming Cities scheme, and our commitment to enhancing Derby remains unwavering. We have a lot of exciting improvements planned or underway around the city as we continue to deliver a better, greener Derby.

Brendan Brennan, Contracts Manager for Eurovia Infrastructures Ltd, said:

It is exciting to be involved in the project to transform Derby city centre and satisfying to see this first section completed and what a difference it has made.

The people of Derby and the businesses in the area have all been great to work with, hopefully everyone can now see the improvement and can start to reap the benefits by using the space better. We’re all really looking forward to completing the other projects together with the city council.