St. Peter’s Churchyard Derby set to become destination dining hotspot in summer 2025

A new outdoor street food market that aims to add to the city’s vibrant hospitality scene has been given approval.

Derby City Council’s planning committee have approved plans by Burton Abbey Developments to create the destination dining spot on a vacant area of land situated at St. Peter’s Churchyard.

Steve Wardle, from Burton Abbey Developments is the businessman who spearheaded plans, his persistence finally paying off after submitting plans for the third time in as many years.

A thrilled Mr Wardle said: “After over three years and three planning applications we are delighted to finally have planning approved for our development of an outdoor street food destination on St. Peter’s Churchyard in Derby city centre.

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“We are ready to start on site this summer, with completion expected next summer to tie in with the other exciting projects opening in Derby in 2025.”

Known as The Yard Derby, the scheme involves creating 10 retail units arranged in an L-shaped configuration.

The new units will run along the southern and western edges of the site, situated away from the Grade II listed St. Peter’s Church and the Grade II listed Old Grammar School.

There will also be a seating area with a capacity for up to 100 people to enjoy a spot of al fresco dining.

It was the third time the scheme had come in front of the planning committee.

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Despite a recommendation by council officers to refuse, members gave the project the go-ahead.

Ahead of the application being considered, the project had some heavyweight support from the city’s business community including Derby Economic Development Advisory Committee and Marketing Derby.

John Forkin, managing director at Marketing Derby spoke of his ‘delight’ at the plans being successful.

He said: “Marketing Derby is delighted that the city council has finally approved this investment, which will create a vibrant food and beverage offer in one of the city centre’s regeneration priority areas.

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“It will help lift the area, support its heritage, as well as complement the council’s own substantial investment into the nearby Performance Venue. It’s exactly the sort of thing Derby has been crying out for.”

Other high profile supporters of the scheme include historian Maxwell Craven and heritage architects Lathams, both who undertook comprehensive analysis of the site.

Mr Wardle added: “I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to Jon Phipps and the team at Lathams, John Forkin, Amy Burton and all at Marketing Derby, Brad Worley and St. Peter’s Quarter BID, Maxwell Craven, and all those who have supported me.”