Will 2025 prove to be Derby's 'Olympic year'?

It has been said by the city's commercial cheerleaders that 2025 will be Derby's "Olympic year".

That is because there are a cluster of city centre projects and developments that local leaders hope will prove transformative for Derby's economy and culture.

While none have opening dates set in stone, most are set to be finished in 2025.

But some of the projects on the roster are not without their uncertainties, and a number have already faced years of delay.

A recent council report also noted the risk of higher inflation, leading to higher borrowing costs for the already cash-strapped authority, as well as the impact of the government's changes to National Insurance paid by employers on contracts for big projects.

Despite all this, however, the authority insists it remains "ambitious" for the city.

From spring 2025 onwards, expect to see and hear a lot more about a number of projects, years in the making, coming to fruition in Derby.

One project that is almost certain to come to the city in 2025 is the completion of Derby Market Hall, almost two years later than planned.

The Grade II-listed building has been closed for three years while work has taken place.

The final cost is expected to be about £35m - millions higher than originally anticipated - and the venue will host a mix of stalls, a food court and entertainment space.

Once complete, the market hall will be open seven days a week, including evenings.

All construction work for the £46m Becketwell Live arena has now been completed and interior work is now under way ahead of its scheduled opening in spring 2025.

However, there is still uncertainty over what will go next to the arena, after developers said there was a funding gap.

A failed bid for a car park in the vicinity has led to concerns from some councillors about the safety of visitors leaving the area at night.

The city council says it is continuing to look at options for the site.

The venue will be owned by the council and leased to and run by ASM Global, a venue management and events producer.

The council said more than 200 new jobs were expected to be created once the venue opened, giving the city centre economy a "significant boost".

The Assembly Rooms has been closed since a fire caused major damage more than 10 years ago, and has faced prolonged uncertainty over its future ever since.

Plans to demolish the venue and build a new theatre on the site were scrapped in November 2023.

A new plan for the building has since emerged, but demolition was delayed again in 2024 until the plan is finalised.

The city council now says it will make way for a multi-purpose development, containing leisure, commercial and community facilities.

While this is not something the city will see completed in 2025, it can at least expect to see a plan for what comes next, and for demolition work to restart.

The University of Derby's new £70m education centre will be opening in 2025, a delayed debut after being initially slated for September 2024.

It is hoped the building will become the new study base for about 6,000 students by the end of the decade.

The building will house teaching spaces, laboratories and a virtual reality suite, as well as a stock market financial trading room.

It is part of plans for the university to expand its footprint in the city.

A £4m revamp of Derby's former Eagle Market - to create a new "gateway" to the city centre - began in the autumn and is scheduled to be completed in the first part of 2025.

The redevelopment will take place in the area off East Street, which is at the eastern entrance to the Derbion shopping centre.

Derbion has said it wants to create a "high-quality landscaping scheme" to inspire a "positive city centre environment, which will help to encourage future uses to locate in the Eagle Market".

A new facade will be built with an LED wall and an "urban garden" public space.

Previous plans to create an indoor go-karting track and amusement space inside the former Eagle Market were scrapped earlier in 2024.

The council approved a £24m project to restore the Guildhall Theatre in Market Place, despite financial concerns, in April last year.

At the time, the council's leader Nadine Peatfield said: "We can only crack on with the plans that we have, and hope that inflation comes down and we can bring it in on time and on budget."

The project was initially approved with £10m from the government's levelling up pot, and about £15m being contributed by the city council.

Restoration plans include a new foyer, cafe and a remodelled auditorium with a seating capacity of about 280.

It is expected work will begin to restore the venue this year, although it will not be completed until 2027 at the earliest.

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.