Revamp planned for 'tired' city square

Plans to redevelop a square outside Derby's Grade II listed Market Hall have been submitted.

Proposals for Osnabruck Square include moving a standing stone obelisk – the Osnabruck Milestone - a short distance, and reorganising and resurfacing the space including new planters, lighting columns and benches.

The square - in front of the market hall which itself is undergoing a £31.5m revamp and is due to reopen this spring - will be used for events, the plans say.

The proposal, submitted by Derby City Council, said the space was last refurbished in 1985 and looks "tired and neglected".

The authority said: "Without investment, this would become even more apparent, with two adjacent projects due for completion in 2025: the refurbishment of the Market Hall, and, immediately to the south of the site, the highways improvement works along Albert Street.

"A reorganisation of the space, and a resurfacing with traditional, natural materials, will help refresh the appearance of the space , and create a new attractive pedestrian destination within Derby city centre."

The site, owned by Derby City Council, lies within the City Centre Conservation Area - an area of special architectural or historic interest - and is named after its twin city of Osnabruck in Germany.

The carved stone obelisk has inscriptions linked to Osnabruck, and was a gift from the German city in recognition of the 1976 twinning treaty signed with Derby.

The plans say the milestone will be moved 3.5m (11.4ft) to the north-east, to become aligned with the proposed new benches along the route to the market hall.

They add the new spot will "better protect the monument" because "its current location within the proposed new layout is both obstructive and potentially vulnerable to vehicle impact".

Three former kiosks that occupied this space have already been demolished in anticipation of the square's refurbishment of the square.

The city council previously said the square would also feature a flexible event space, outdoor cafe seating, and artistic installations, "creating a lively space for local markets and homegrown talent to shine".

The application will now be considered by city council planners.

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