Prominent Derby building set for demolition after Storm Babet damage

A prominent Derby building is to be demolished after it sustained substantial flood damage in one of the worst storms to ever hit the city. Permission has been given for the former Motorpoint Training Centre and now the Capital Hair and Beauty building on Chequers Road to be bulldozed.

The building can be seen by thousands of motorists each day when driving along the A52 towards the Pentagon Island junction. Owners of the building say it can no longer be used to good affect after it sustained damage when Storm Babet hit the city in October last year.

The storm caused flooding havoc across Derby and Derbyshire. It saw city centre areas deep under water including Pentagon Island and forced nearby businesses along Chequers Road to close.

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The floods also significantly affected the Silk Mill area in Derby, leading to the temporary closure of the Museum of Making because of the flood damage to the historic building. Derby City Council has agreed for demolition to commence on the Chequers Road building after Motorpoint expressed a desire to use the space as extra land to display its vehicles for customers.

It is said former occupier Capital Hair and Beauty no longer wish to remain in the building “due to the insurance risk” in case of more floods in the area.

In planning documents, Motorpoint told the council: “The building suffered substantial damage in the October 2023 floods and Motorpoint have not been able to occupy it since. Capital Hair and Beauty do not wish to remain in this location due to the insurance risk. The building is beyond economical repair so Motorpoint have decided to demolish the building and use for vehicle display.”

It adds that once demolished “the site is proposed to be of a tarmac finish” and will include fencing to the perimeter. According to planning documents, demolition work could start in the new year (January 2025) and take a week to complete.

In a report a Derby City Council planning officer said: “This building is a single storey structure with a flat roof. It is located on the corner of Chequers Road, on the West Meadows Industrial Estate and is visible from the A52 and surrounding area. The area has no designations and is not historically significant.

“For all the reasons stated, I see no reason to raise any objections to the proposed demolition of the building outlined on the submitted plan, which is the subject of this submission.”

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