Smith Partnership announces one of the biggest deals in its history with Nightingale Quarter developers

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 7 September 2019

Smith Partnership has agreed one of the biggest deals in its history after it was selected as a preferred legal partner in the sale of new homes on the prestigious Nightingale Quarter development.

Eight hundred homes are to be built on the site of the former Derby Royal Infirmary on London Road with a value of £150m.

Work is anticipated to begin on the site in October with properties released for sale in January with first completions in early summer next year.

The new deal between developers, Birmingham-based Wavensmere, and Smith Partnership will mean that legal work on sales should go through in just 28 days.

Wavensmere’s sales director Donna Smith said:

“It would have been easy to bring in Birmingham-based partners but we are trying to work with as many local businesses as possible and, as we are both Marketing Derby bondholders, Smith Partnership was a great fit.

“I was impressed by how many people knew the company in Derby. They will be working with us on launching the development and giving advice to clients from the start.

Smith Partnership managing partner, Kevin McGrath, said: “We are thrilled with this deal.

“When we decided to stay in the city centre with our new headquarters on Friar Gate, we were attempting to inspire other people to follow suit.

“So, helping people move into the Nightingale Quarter is entirely consistent with what we have been trying to do in supporting Derby city centre in being a 24-hr destination of choice for people to live, work and enjoy.

“It is one of the deals we are most proud of because of what it means for the city.”

Donna added:

“The Nightingale Quarter’s demographic will be 25-40-year-olds, professional people who live around the city.

“There will be high-quality accommodation with six acres of green open space. Health and wellbeing will be our focus with cycle routes, an open-air gym and fitness area, children’s play areas and tree planting throughout.”

One of the iconic ‘pepper pots’ which have been retained on the DRI site will be given back to the community at a peppercorn rent to house a café and exhibition space and the other will be a sales and marketing hub before being later turned into a gym.

Already 400 people have registered interest in the site in a month, attracted by the proximity to the railway station, Intu shopping centre and the other fantastic facilities Derby has to offer.

In the first release of properties, prices will start from £125,000 for apartments and £185,000 for houses.

Donna said:

“We have been very careful to incorporate living spaces that have a spacious, airy feel to them and have made the properties high specification – we think the people of Derby will love them “

“The more we learn about Derby, the more excited we are about this project. Indeed, we want to promote Derby to the rest of the UK and internationally with companies like Smith Partnership.”

Kevin said:

“It is great to see other companies who see what we see about Derby and we look forward very much to working on the Nightingale Quarter project.

“Usually, buying a house is one of the most stressful things you can do but people can come here and we will have the transaction set up beforehand because we know the site.

“Potential buyers should remember that our headquarters is only 15 minutes away from the site so they can pop in and complete any paperwork.”

Donna added:

“House prices are still relatively low in Derby and I see the East Midlands as an area of growth as 2.1 million people are within a 45-minute journey of the city.

“We are well aware of the history of this site and are proud of its association with Florence Nightingale.

“People have affection for it because they may have been born at the DRI or have personal memories of it.

“Therefore, we are asking local schools to name the six blocks along Bradshaw Way and London Road.

“We have already grown to love Derby and its community and the deal with Smith Partnership is another demonstration of our commitment.”

Anyone wishing to register their interest for the development should do so on the following website; www.qderby.co.uk

In accordance with the law, Smith Partnership will be one of two legal partners for the site.

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