December 4, 2024

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New shopping mall to open in Derby this summer

New shopping mall to open in Derby this summer

New shopping mall to open in Derby this summer

A new shopping mall is set to open in Derby later this summer – the company behind the plans has revealed.

Work is well under way to transform the city’s former Pear Tree Library in Pear Tree Road into a new shopping complex which will allow and inspire new and small entrepreneurs to shine.

All being well, the new mall will cater for ten shops at the former Derby City Council-owned site and should open to the public in a matter of months – with the new owners aiming for around early July.

Bosses of 2i Investments Ltd – the company behind the new development – say they are confident the new shopping centre will be a success in the community despite the concerns surrounding the retail industry following the coronavirus pandemic.

Last year Derbyshire Live reported how the Pear Tree Library was relocated to St Augustine’s Community Centre in Almond Street which meant the council were looking for a buyer for the venue, historically known as the Carnegie Building.



The former Pear Tree Library.

Ifran Nadeem, director of 2i Investments Limited, said he was in negotiations with traders and small businesses in the city and said he was keen to discuss plans with other business people who have creative ideas.

Mr Nadeem told Derbyshire Live he is keen for the new centre to have a new and fresh variety of shops and move away from the frequent take-away and food stores which Normanton is well known for.

He has also urged anyone interested in running a unit to contact him urgently.

He said: “Work is going really well and we are looking at getting it up and running by end of June or early July.

“It’s a beautiful building, it’s historical and has been there for a long time – we want people to enjoy their visit here.

“Getting it ready for the summer won’t be hard, the difficult thing will be knowing what climate we’ll be in when we open. But I do believe people will want to get out again and will want to go shopping.

“This is a unique concept and we’re hoping that it will bring and grow businesses in Derby.

“In Normanton Road every second shop is either a fast food outlet or a barber shop. I’m keen to bring back the traditional retail we had in Normanton such as clothing etc and I am keen to talk to as many people who have ideas.

“I’m happy to take someone on a three or four months tenancy, there’s no difference for me – what I want to do is to help small businesses and allow them to grow. If you’ve got something new and creative then I’m happy to talk. “

Before it’s purchase last year Derby City Council said the building had become “surplus to requirements”.

A spokesperson said at the time: “Owing to structural defects, with a repair cost of approximately £1.5m, discovered during the planned renovation of Pear Tree library a decision was approved at Cabinet in November 2018 to move the library function to the nearby St Augustine’s Community Centre and declare the building surplus to the council’s requirements.”

Anyone interested in opening a unit at the shopping mall should contact Ifran Nadeem either by phone on 07830 479888 or by email on i[email protected].