More parts of St James’s Street will be pedestrianised for a ‘coffee culture feel’
Sophie Fagone Buscimese Trainee Reporter
07:21, 18 Apr 2026
Council leader Nadine Peatfield is keen to bring St James’s Street back to life.
The “place where estate agents went to die”, in the words of Derby’s council leader, is in for a bright future after years of being overlooked.
St James’s Street, located just off Cornmarket, has long been an underused part of the city centre, with a dwindling number of estate agents occupying spaces on the street.
In 2025, developer St James Street (Derby) Ltd launched its £10 million vision for the area, aiming to restore and revitalise properties on the street.
Since then, the first signs of life returning to the street have been spotted – including the opening of the coffee shop Cafe Blanc and video games developer Bulkhead moving into the old tram sheds.
The well-known Bustler Street Food Market is also set to move into a former car park which connects St James’s Street with the nearby Sadler Gate, thereby creating a shortcut betwen the two.
“My experience of St James’s Street is that it’s the place where estate agents went to die,” said Derby City Council leader Nadine Peatfield, who is also cabinet member for city centre, regeneration, strategy and policy.
“It has just been one of those quieter streets that people use as a thoroughfare.
“I imagine it used to be really bustling at one point, so it’s been a real shame to see what has happened to it.”
She explained that St James’s Street was put back on the map when plans for the entertainment venue Vaillant Live were launched.
“We’ve got an investment in the Market Hall, an investment in the Becketwell site and the quickest way to walk between the two is this street right here, so we knew we needed to do something really special with it.”
To achieve this, the council has used public-private partnerships, where it works with developers who want to breathe new life into buildings whilst preserving their heritage.
“Because we’re working with them and investing with them, we have a bit of persuasion and say in what goes into those shop fronts, so we don’t just see vape shop after vape shop, nail shop after nail shop.
“I know they’re important to some people, but we want to see vibrant use of those spaces.”
She added that companies such as Bulkhead, unlocking old venues and turning them into office spaces, would have major benefits for the city’s economy, bringing people into the city to work and enjoy its offerings.
The council’s plan is now to pedestrianise St James’s Street further, enabling outdoor seating for eateries.
“Our job is to beautify this area and make it feel welcoming,” Ms Peatfield added.
“We want to try pedestrianise a bit more of it, more greenery, cafes, tables outside, so that you have a cafe porch feel.”
She said that she was especially excited for the “Bustler magic” to come to the shortcut just off St James’s Street.
Bustler is set to open in June in the disused car park, bringing the area to life with food stalls made up from container boxes, and allowing people to walk from St James’s Street to Sadler Gate via a shortcut.
“It’s going to attract a new type of visitor to the city, it gives something for young people to do, and not so young people. I enjoy it too,” Cllr Peatfield said.
“Our masterplan is about bringing people to live here, to work here, to play here. It’s about bringing vibrancy to the city.
“More people means more spending. It means a safer city because the streets are self-policing.
“That’s exactly what we want. We want our city to thrive.”