A new restaurant complete with a rooftop terrace could be created in part of the former Derbyshire Building Society’s flagship branch in the heart of Derby city centre.
Plans have been submitted to Derby City Council by Universal Real Estate to change the use of a section of the ex-building society branch in East Street, in the city’s St Peters Quarter, from financial/professional services to a restaurant/fast food takeaway.
The East Street branch of The Derbyshire has been vacant ever since the society was fully merged into the Nationwide five years ago.
The branch was spread across two buildings and earlier this year both were sold off separately by SDL Auctions Graham Penny.
According to the plans, the proposed restaurant, which would be housed in one of the buildings, would have space for more than 100 diners across three levels, including a new roof terrace. If given the go-ahead, the new venture would create five full-time jobs and 10 part-time roles.
In planning documents submitted to the city council by JSA Architects, on behalf of Universal, it said: “The site provides a unique opportunity to bring a vacant building in a prominent, city centre location back into use.
“The existing building has been empty for a number of years. However, it remains in good condition, requiring minimal repairs and maintenance.
“The proposal will not alter the scale of the building. The only externally visible alteration is the addition of a roof terrace which will be accessed via an enclosed stair at roof level. This will not be visible from East Street.
“The plans will provide a restaurant/fast food outlet for public use that will provide employment opportunities.
“The proposal is predominantly for a change of use of the building with extremely minimal changes to exterior of the building. The proposed uses will provide services suitable for the site’s location.”
At one time, the Derbyshire Building Society was the ninth largest in the country. Its flagship Derby branch used to be on the corner of Iron Gate and the Market Place. It then moved to East Street in 2007.
But the following year it was announced that the society, along with the Cheshire Building Society, had agreed to merge with the Nationwide Building Society.
The merger was borne out of increasing fears about the financial security of both the Derbyshire and the Cheshire societies with the former expected to post half-yearly losses of £17 million and the latter posting losses of £10.5 million.
Following the deal, The Derbyshire initially operated as a trading division of the Nationwide, until it was fully integrated into its parent in November, 2014. Branches were either re-branded under the Nationwide brand of closed.
In the case of East Street, Nationwide decided not to retain those offices. Instead, it moved into a larger property next door - the former HMV on the corner of East Street and Albion Street.
