Building on Derbion land will add 1,152 new homes in apartment blocks to the city’s housing stock

14:48, 10 Jun 2026Updated 14:54, 10 Jun 2026

The final piece in the jigsaw of development – how the Eagle Quarter could look in the next few years(Image: Derbion)

A significant development has been given the green light by city planners and takes the reality of Derbion’s masterplan for the city centre a step nearer.

The latest development to be given outline planning permission is the creation of 674 homes on the land where the former Eagle Market building stood – including a four other blocks of varying heights – sometimes known as the Eagle Quarter.

It was given the go-ahead in principle at a meeting last December but this was ratified with full approval for the outline plan last week after agreements between the city council and developers had been ironed out.

It also includes 145 car parking spaces, including residential and commercial floor space; a public square; servicing; car and cycle parking provision; hard and soft landscaping works and provision of new pedestrian routes.

The other development which forms a major part of the Derbion masterplan includes a 14-storey apartment block on the corner of Bradshaw Way, on the current site of a retail park of the same name, which will provide 478 homes.

This is how the Bradshaw Way development will look approaching from Traffic Street(Image: Derbion)

With planning approval for both developments in place, the way is cleared for the longer-term development of Derbion’s footprint over the next five to 10 years and beyond.

Beth McDonald, Derbion managing director, said: “The Derbion masterplan offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to contribute to the revitalisation of Derby’s historic city centre, so we are delighted to have secured approval.

“It is important to Derbion that we work closely with key local stakeholders such as Derby City Council to create a vibrant city centre and we have been so pleased with the progress so far.

“With a thriving retail and leisure centre at its heart, the Derbion masterplan will supercharge these efforts by bringing people back into Derby through new high-quality homes, commercial and public spaces and walkable streets, acting as a catalyst for sustainable growth and development in and around the city centre and providing long-term economic opportunities for Derby.”

Derbion’s masterplan has been designed to rebalance the retail and residential offer in the heart of Derby by improving connectivity and accessibility, increasing public realm, and regenerating city living whilst maintaining the character and heritage of the historic city centre.

Alongside housing, Derby Theatre, which has also announced plans to expand over the coming years, will be the focal point of the Eagle Quarter development and integrate with the recently opened, multimillion-pound Derbion Square with its new façade and urban garden.

The proposals for Bradshaw Way include residential buildings with private courtyards and green spaces, as well as units for commercial occupiers on the ground floor.

The proposed development will also improve connectivity to Derby’s Nightingale Quarter.

The two sites have been identified by Derby City Council as key areas for change outlined in their Vision for Derby (2022).

The medium-to-long term development will contribute significantly to the council’s housing targets and its wider plan for the future of the city centre, driving forward the regeneration of Derby.

The approval of the Derbion Masterplan follows a transformative year for the retail and leisure destination with a raft of new openings including Crew Clothing, Seasalt, Victoria’s Secret and Wingstop, alongside a 40,000 sq ft letting to Primark, which will relocate to Derbion in 2027.

Derbion’s leisure offering also expanded following the openings of the 55,000 sq ft padel club, Social Sports Society and Flo Skatepark, creating a new community sports destination for Derby.

City council leader Nadine Peatfield said: “The green light for Derbion’s masterplan marks a major step forward in our shared vision to transform Derby into a vibrant and welcoming place to live.

“By creating a substantial number of high-quality new homes, this project will play a vital role in supporting us to achieve our housing strategy while breathing new life into the Eagle Quarter.

“This is a very exciting time for our city centre, with Derbion’s Masterplan complementing other major transformations such as the redevelopments of the Becketwell area and Market Place.

“By working closely with partners like Derbion, we are ensuring Derby remains a premier destination to live, work, and visit for generations to come.”

The Eagle Quarter planning approval marks the end of several years of changing plans for the site, which in January 2023 initially included 11 apartment blocks of varying sizes including one of 29 storeys (originally suggested as 31 storeys) and intended to offer 875 homes.

The Bradshaw Way development was originally intended to be 19 storeys, accommodating 420 homes in five blocks on the site.

As it is, the planned Eagle Quarter tower block is just short of being the same height as Derby Cathedral -which is the equivalent of 20 storeys.

The 2023 proposals included demolishing the Eagle Market, Castle and Falcon pub and Derby Theatre. The pub has been demolished, the market area will be cleared and it is now clear the theatre will be staying on the site after all.

The revised planning application for the Eagle Quarter prompted the city’s chief planning officer Paul Clarke to say: “The masterplan is the start of the journey and I think it is a really exciting time to be in Derby.

“I would hope that we would see more intensive tall buildings in Derby like this.”