11/01/2019

Godwin achieves planning permission for ‘The Landmark’

Skyline of Derby with proposed CGI of The Landmark

Godwin are delighted to announce that ‘The Landmark’, the proposed 202 apartments scheme in Phoenix Street, Derby, has had the majority backing at the latest planning committee. Godwin have pledged to work with the city council to now sign off the section 106 and planning conditions.

The announcement came after councillors voted to reject planning officers’ recommendations to refuse the scheme, and instead voted to grant planning permission.

Godwin Developments managing director Richard Cornes said they were delighted to have achieved consent for this important residential scheme. 

“We are grateful for the support from Marketing Derby, the Chapter of Derby Cathedral and from major employers such as Rolls Royce, who have recognised what we are aiming to achieve in the city – a prestigious development which reflects well on Derby and brings more people to live in the city,” he said.

Writing on behalf of the Chapter of Derby Cathedral, the Dean of Derby, the Very Revd Dr Steven Hance, said: “We note that the building is located outside of the Cathedral Quarter conservation area, and that it would be the first build-to-rent in Derby, a key part any strategy for bringing city centre living back to Derby.

“While we understand that concerns have been expressed about the impact of the development on the city’s skyline, and particularly views of the Cathedral, our view is that the impact on key vantage points would be very limited, and any downside is outweighed by the important strategic gain of bringing more people to live in the city centre.

“The Chapter is therefore unanimously supportive of the plans as they stand.”

During the meeting John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said that city centre living would bring vibrancy to the city. He added that Derby needed to attract people to stay and spend their money in the city.

He was concerned that “money leaves Derby” and said that Rolls Royce had commented that graduates don’t come to Derby as there was no high quality accommodation for them.

His comments were echoed by Paul Harris, director of economic development at Rolls Royce, who wrote: “It is my view that Derby needs to improve its city centre living proposition in order to compete in attracting the young talent that Rolls-Royce and other companies need to attract in order to meet their needs.  

“We do find that a significant proportion of the young people we attract to the company choose not to live in Derby, partly because of a lack of good quality rental accommodation.

 “This developer took the trouble to contact us to discuss what the young talent we are looking to attract would value and I understand has taken some of these aspects into account when developing the scheme.  

“Good quality, relatively affordable rented accommodation with professional management, good on-site facilities and proximity to public transport/cycling links is attractive to many of our target audience and this scheme appears to provide that.”

Godwin look forward to continue to improve and progress the skyline of the East Midlands.