News

Derby's Assembly Rooms has become a construction site ahead of its demolition. Image by LDRS.

Derby Assembly Rooms becomes a construction site

Derby’s Assembly Rooms has become a construction site – just weeks after its demolition was fully approved. Wired fencing has been installed around the Market Place building with signage staying “construction site” and “keep out”. Machinery has also been placed next to the abandoned building near to the Nando’s restaurant. Derby City Council has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the site is being prepared for demolition. The building has stood empty since a serious fire took place more […]

15 September 2026 12

The pothole in Littlewell Lane, Stanton, which damaged John Tagg's Mercedes in March this year.

Derbyshire

Government-mandated MOT of Derbyshire’s roads shows a declining proportion of well maintained routes

A new Government-mandated MOT of Derbyshire’s roads has been published, showing a declining proportion of well maintained routes around the county. Derbyshire County Council’s newly-published highways maintenance transparency report – which has to be published each year as ordered by central Government – shows the current state of the area’s roads and its planned repairs. Statistics in the report are based on assessments earlier this year, with officials saying this would not account for works carried out during the summer […]

15 September 2026 6

Borough Wide

One borough care home put up for sale, another yet to be put on the market after closures

Several former Derbyshire care homes are being sold at auction after the council failed to secure a buyer to keep them running. In June, Derbyshire County Council confirmed it had emptied and closed eight care homes it had been aiming to sell to a sole provider, after determining it could no longer keep them itself. However, last December, that sale fell through – and, despite offers from other prospective buyers for a number of the individual homes, the council proceeded […]

15 September 2026 17

Borough Wide

Passengers with mobility scooters can now travel on all types of Northern trains with free permit

Rail passengers who also use mobility scooters to get around are now able to travel more widely via a free permit with a regional rail operator serving part of the borough. Northern, which runs services through Ilkeston Railway Station, has made the offer after an update was made to company rules covering Class 158 trains meaning the policy now covers all types of its rolling stock. Passengers who currently have mobility scooter permits with Northern are being contacted and told […]

15 September 2026 15

Richard Blackmore from The East Midlands Chamber

Derby

East Midlands unemployment falls to lowest level since summer 2025 but Budget must support employers

Unemployment in the East Midlands has fallen to 4.9% but is still too high, East Midlands Chamber has said, as it renewed its call for reduced cost pressure on business and skills investment to be prioritised in the Autumn Budget. The estimated figure from the Office for National Statistics for over 16s in the East Midlands covers May to July 2026. The last time unemployment was below 4.9% was in June to August of 2025 at 4.5%. East Midlands Chamber […]

15 September 2026 8

Alstom Adessia Stream for TransPennine Express

Derby

Derby’s Alstom signs £1 billion contracts for battery-electric trains

Derby train-maker Alstom has signed contracts worth more than £1 billion to supply and maintain Britain’s first mainline battery-electric trains. The trains, designed and built at the firm’s Litchurch Lane Works, are for TransPennine Express – and will transform rail travel across northern England and support the delivery of the Transpennine Route Upgrade. The agreements combine a rolling stock contract worth approximately £800 million for 29 five-car battery-electric multiple units with maintenance contracts valued at around £200 million. Rob Whyte, […]

15 September 2026 24

Borough Wide

Partners help shape a Derbyshire food plan

People and organisations from across Derbyshire have come together to help shape a new Food Plan aimed at improving access to healthy, affordable food across the county. The Derbyshire Food Partnership Stakeholder Engagement Event brought together representatives from community organisations, businesses, NHS organisations, local authorities and other partners to share ideas and discuss the challenges in accessing healthy food, and to explore opportunities to work together to improve the local food system across the county. Councillor Dan Price, Derbyshire County […]

14 September 2026 19

Borough Wide

Thousands of women across Derby and Derbyshire to be offered NHS home HPV testing kits

Thousands of women across Derby and Derbyshire who have not attended cervical screening appointments will be offered a home HPV testing kit as part of a national roll-out. The NHS has started rolling out HPV self-testing kits to encourage more women to complete their potentially life-saving screening to detect human papillomavirus (HPV), which can increase the risk of cervical cancer. The initiative is designed to make screening more accessible and help prevent cervical cancer. Data from March 2024 shows that […]

14 September 2026 22

Derby

Derby University rises 25 places to 33rd in 2027 Guide

The University of Derby has climbed 25 places in The Guardian University Guide 2027, making it one of the Top 35 universities in the UK. Derby is now ranked 33rd out of 123 universities. As well as an overall ranking, The Guardian University Guide 2027 produces league tables for subject areas, which has seen some equally impressive performances for Derby. Top 10 subject rankings: Forensic Science – 1st Marketing and PR – 2nd Biomedical Science – 4th Zoology – 4th […]

14 September 2026 36

Derby Assembly Rooms becomes a construction site

Government-mandated MOT of Derbyshire’s roads shows a declining proportion of well maintained routes

One borough care home put up for sale, another yet to be put on the market after closures

Passengers with mobility scooters can now travel on all types of Northern trains with free permit

East Midlands unemployment falls to lowest level since summer 2025 but Budget must support employers

Derby’s Alstom signs £1 billion contracts for battery-electric trains

Partners help shape a Derbyshire food plan

Thousands of women across Derby and Derbyshire to be offered NHS home HPV testing kits

Derby University rises 25 places to 33rd in 2027 Guide

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