Derby is set to get even greener as phase two of the city centre green makeover gets underway.
Earlier this year, new planters were installed around the city centre, giving busy spaces a fresh and vibrant feel whilst also creating additional accessible seating for passers-by.
These installations complement the already established Living Roof bus shelters, Living Pillars®, pocket parks and cycle parking, creating a more welcoming environment, supporting pollinators to thrive and enhancing Derby’s biodiversity.
Phase two will build on the success of the first wave of installations, allowing the planters and their locations to be reviewed and tweaks made to locations where needed.
Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said:
We were really pleased with the results of our city centre makeover earlier this year, however we know that things can always be improved. This is what we’re doing through phase two – making our city an even greener and nicer place to spend time.
Thank you to members of the public and local businesses who have shared their feedback with our teams and helped us to make these improvements, which not only improve the look and feel of our streets, but also support biodiversity, help tackle air pollution and create a more resilient urban environment for the future.
Work on phase two of the project is currently underway, led by the Council’s contractor, Meristem Design, and is due to be completed in late October.
David MacColl, Co-founder and Operations Director at Meristem Design added:
We’re delighted to continue our work with Derby City Council on this next phase of the city centre greening. The green infrastructure not only adds colour and life to urban spaces, but also helps create a more welcoming, healthy and biodiverse environment for both people and pollinators.
It’s great to see how previous installations have already lifted the look and feel of the city, and we’re proud to help make Derby an even better place for people to live, work and visit.
In 2020, Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council secured £161m from the Transforming Cities Fund to invest in local transport infrastructure that will improve sustainable transport options, support growth, and encourage more low carbon journeys.
As part of this wider vision, Derby’s city centre streets have been reimagined to provide improved access for road users and pedestrians, improve traffic flow, and reduce emissions. This includes new segregated cycle lanes, wider pavements, and improved traffic signals.
The Transforming Cities Fund works aim to increase active and sustainable travel, increase biodiversity which in turn improves health and wellbeing whilst supporting the local economy. These are all actions listed in the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan.