Close to half of the 800 apartments at Wavensmere Homes’ £175m Nightingale Quarter development in Derby city centre have been completed and handed over to purchasers during 2024. Located within three individual residential buildings, the 368 new homes equate to £65m.
The regeneration specialist commenced the redevelopment and restoration of the former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary four years ago.
125 two and three-bedroom townhouses were sold off-plan and handed over to purchasers between 2021-3. The majority of the 800 apartments sold ahead of the build schedule, with residents taking occupation from 2023 onwards, within seven apartment buildings located across the 18.5-acre site.
Donna Smith, Sales Director for Wavensmere Homes, said: “Some people might not have shared our bold vision for Nightingale Quarter back in 2020 when we first broke ground, but now it’s a proud reality. This hugely successful development has created a new community of all ages, leaving a £175m legacy in the process.
“There are growing families, school-aged children, hard-working professionals who work locally, those who regularly commute to London, and retirees living here. The completion of our CoVo serviced apartment building earlier this year also enables us to accommodate those staying in the city for a few days or more.
“We are now at the final furlong of matching these wonderful, energy-efficient homes with purchasers. With only 18 one- and two-bedroom apartments left, we are weeks away from selling out. That will be an incredible milestone for the whole Wavensmere team and the city of Derby.
“The redevelopment of this iconic former hospital has been the catalyst for city living here. Now it’s the last chance to buy on this very special – virtually completed – development.”
The Pepperpot restaurant – situated at the heart of the residential scheme in a restored fine terracotta former hospital building – opened in February 2024, receiving high acclaim from food critics and local residents.
In April, Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner enjoyed meeting with Nightingale Quarter residents and the construction team. Then in June, Sir Tim Smit of the Eden Project unveiled the community garden, designed and planted by Down to Earth Derby and residents.
Pepperpot South opened as the marketing suite for the 925 houses and apartments in 2022. With 98% of the homes now sold, the building has been re-purposed as a fully-equipped gym for residents’ use.
On the ground floor of Fox House, which is at the opposite side of the development, an expansive co-working space is also operational.
103 apartments located within Nightingale Quarter’s final Walton House building on London Road are currently under construction, with completion set for late 2025.
The five-storey red-brick £20m building will feature solar PV roof panels, with battery storage, to enable the green energy generated on site to be captured and used to power a proportion of the building’s electricity use.
The Derbyshire Royal Infirmary opened in 1894 and closed 15 years ago. The Florence Nightingale-designed former hospital had lain derelict for a decade prior to Wavensmere Homes’ acquisition and start on site in 2020.
While the vast majority of the Victorian hospital had been bulldozed, Wavensmere pledged to save and restore the imposing pepperpot buildings, despite one being previously consented for demolition.
