The iconic Marble Hall building in Derby, which has recently undergone a £4m restoration to transform it into a managed workspace scheme and community hub, has received a prestigious regional award.
The former Rolls-Royce building on Nightingale Road, which is now part of Derby City Council’s Connect Derby scheme, was named Regeneration and Restoration Project of the Year at the East Midlands Property Dinner 2016.
The event, which was held at the Nottingham Belfry Hotel and hosted by Mark Durden-Smith, celebrated the strength of the region’s property sector and showcased the best in real estate, design and construction.
The Regeneration and Restoration Project of the Year award recognises those private and public sector organisations that have driven schemes transforming the physical, social and economic health of an area and have brought sustainable benefits.
The award, which was sponsored by The Land Trust, was presented to Derby City Council and Connect Derby in recognition of the sympathetic restoration of the grade-two listed Marble Hall and its transformation into a community hub, with a vibrant managed workspace facility and community hub.
The building opened its doors to tenants just over four months ago and has already achieved 55% occupancy – with a diverse array of clients ranging from new start-ups to established and developing businesses.
Also shortlisted for the award were ‘Building 17’ at Sir Richard Arkwright’s Cromford Mills and Hazelton Homes for The Maltings in Sileby.
Speaking about receiving the award, Councillor Martin Rawson, deputy leader of Derby City Council and cabinet member for planning, environment and regeneration said:
“Everybody associated with Connect Derby should be really proud of the hard work they’ve put in to make Marble Hall the thriving business and community hub it is today.
“To win this prestigious award is a fantastic achievement and testament to the vision shown by the regeneration team at Derby City Council to create this much-needed community facility, the fantastic refurbishment work carried out by Robert Woodhead and Bauman Lyons and the dedication show by Connect Derby manager Ann Bhatti and her team.
“We were up against some stiff competition in the category and must congratulate the Arkwright Society for their fabulous work on regenerating one of the former mill buildings at Cromford Mills and Hazelton Homes for their work on The Maltings in Sileby.”
Marble Hall is the first venture for Connect in the Community, a new initiative which aims to attract and support social enterprises, voluntary community groups, and charities to the area, along with new start-ups and growing businesses.
Accommodation includes 42 offices, ranging in size from 100 ft2 to 800 ft2. YMCA Derbyshire recently launched ‘Claude’s’, a new on-site kitchen and training provision. A day nursery with for 16 two – three year olds and 26 three – four year olds is also set to open later in the year.
Marble Hall is building on the success of the hugely influential Connect Derby scheme, which has created a strong market for serviced offices in the city and forms part of Derby City Council’s commitment to work with the city’s disadvantaged communities.
Connect Derby brings together Derby City Council’s workspaces – Friar Gate Studios, Kings Chambers, Sadler Bridge Studios, Shot Tower, Riverside Chambers (former Magistrates’ Court building on Full Street), and the exciting new iHub innovation centre, under one banner to create jobs for local people.
The scheme provides micro businesses, entrepreneurs and SMEs with the high specification working environment, IT infrastructure and business support they need to improve business survival rates and act as a catalyst for expansion and growth. It is also hoped that the project will create further jobs by increasing inward investment to the city.
