Derbion Q&A: New arrivals, recent investment, and what’s in store at the shopping centre
Many shopping centres in UK towns and cities have struggled in recent years as the retail market gets to grips with a post-pandemic world and shifts in spending habits.
However some assets appear to have bucked the trend, such as Derbion in the East Midlands, which has welcomed new tenants and continued investment from occupiers.
Spanning 1.1 million sq ft, the Derby scheme is home to over 200 tenants, including Next, Zara, Mango, H&M, M&S, Hobbs, Hugo Boss, and JD Sports. It also contains a 127,000 sq ft department store for Frasers, Sports Direct, USC and GAME.
Completely Retail News caught up with Michael Boundy, director of asset management at Derbion, to chat about what’s new at Derby’s largest shopping centre:
What new retailers has Derbion welcomed in recent months?
“2025 has been off to a flying start at Derbion, with a range of new and exciting brands and store upgrades. Following excellent sales performance, JD has doubled its footprint to a newly fitted out 20,000 sq ft store which opened in February, whilst iconic lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret will open its new, standalone 5,721 sq ft store at Derbion this summer, expanding out of its current space in Next, giving Derbion’s shoppers access to the brand’s full product line.
“We’re also excited to welcome Seasalt, who will be opening its first major space in the East Midlands later this year. Alongside these names, we’ve seen a wave of upsizes and store investments from several existing retailers including H.Samuel, New Look and Superdrug highlighting strong occupier confidence in the centre.”
From a retailer perspective, why choose Derbion?
“There are several reasons why retailers want to be at Derbion. Firstly, Derby’s affluent catchment. We are home to globally significant and expanding employers like Rolls-Royce, Toyota, and Alstom, providing occupiers with a highly engaged, affluent customer with workforce salaries in Derby well above the national average.
“Secondly, the city is undergoing significant regeneration. £1.93bn has been invested in Derby since 2011 with £2.9bn of known projects in the pipeline. The 3,500 seat Vaillant Live performance venue, a fully restored Market Hall, a new university business school, and major residential and office schemes are all opening this year, vastly increasing the city centre’s population and visitation which will in turn benefit Derbion with a higher catchment spend potential.
“At the same time, Derbion has been evolving too. In the last few years, we’ve undergone a major transformation, with over £3.6m invested into our F&B offering, and ongoing development of key areas within the centre. It’s a really exciting time to be an occupier here at Derbion.”
Michael Boundy, director of asset management at Derbion | Sam Bagnall
What recent investment have you seen from existing tenants?
“We’ve seen over £36 million in retailer investment in new stores, refits and upsizes since 2021 and in just the past two years, we’ve completed 56 new lettings, upsizes and renewals. It’s a strong indicator of retailer confidence and ongoing demand for high-quality space at Derbion. We are also seeing a number of our brands use Derbion as a launchpad for exciting new innovations and concepts within their stores. These include JD and River Island who have both enhanced their stores with new technology to improve the shopping experience.”
What trends are you seeing from both retailers and customers?
“There’s a clear move towards experiential retail. Brands are increasingly focused on creating dynamic, seamless shopping experiences, blending physical and digital in innovative ways. For us, that means delivering events, experiences and activations that enhance the visit. We’ve seen great success through a range of engaging events that target different shoppers from our Dino’s Live experience, and School Uniform Hub as well as local partnerships with Derby County FC and Derby Theatre. We’re planning to build on that momentum throughout 2025 with over 10 new events being added to our programme.”
What’s in store for Derbion in the near future?
“We’re pressing ahead with several major developments. The £4m Eastern Gateway project will create a new entrance to Derbion alongside an urban garden for residents and visitors to enjoy, enhancing access and visibility. Meanwhile, plans for the Eagle Market redevelopment are progressing well and we hope to be announcing new occupiers for this space shortly. This transformation, which is part of our commitment to ensuring Derby’s future is bright, inclusive and full of opportunities, will create a more vibrant environment, driving increased footfall and attracting new visitors to the area.
“We also have exciting additional plans in the pipeline for Derbion. While we’re not quite ready to share the details just yet, we’re confident they’ll be popular with both shoppers and retailers, and we look forward to revealing more in due course.”
Q: How does Derbion form part of the wider regeneration of Derby?
“We’re deeply embedded in the city’s Masterplan. We’re working closely with Derby City Council on major projects like the Eastern Gateway, and we’ll also be the key parking partner for the new Vaillant Live venue, a dynamic entertainment venue for concerts, sports events, and conferences. Beyond retail, elements of Derbion-owned land are primed for future city centre residential developments, making us a key player in shaping Derby’s City Centre’s evolving and exciting future.”
A render of the Eastern Gateway at Derbion