Roundhouse

English Heritage has brought a high degree of involvement and expertise… we have consistently valued their insight and comment. They have shared our passion and vision for saving this important range of buildings and giving it a very bright future. Ian Harris, Architect, maber

The grade II* listed Derby Roundhouse is a triumph of Victorian ingenuity; a 16-sided structure with a 40-metre central space, it still houses the large turntable on which steam locomotives were once manoeuvred before repair. Built in 1839 by Robert Stephenson, the building was the first of its kind in the world, but it languished on English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk register from its very first publication. Neighbouring historic buildings – a former carriage shop and railway workshop, both listed at grade II*, and a grade II listed office building with a clock tower - were in a similarly vacant and derelict condition.

This fascinating complex of important buildings could easily have been lost but Derby College stepped in and decided to turn this former railway works into a new campus. English Heritage was confident about the ability of the architects and was, from the start, supportive of the overarching vision for the site. We helped the local authority to feel similarly confident that the scheme was going to succeed. In addition to that enthusiasm we could offer experience gained from the development of a similar structure for the University of Derby, at the domed former Royal Devonshire Hospital in Buxton, featured in Shared Interest (2006). This provided the architects with a basis on which they could move forward and the detailed knowledge needed to guide the College’s decision-making, in what was for them uncharted territory.

The £36 million development passed smoothly through the planning process and will make a major contribution to the regeneration of Derby’s historically important railway works site. The historic Roundhouse acts as a focal point for a unified campus that combines new architecture and historic buildings. The campus will become an attraction for visitors as well as an academic centre with a unique character. Buzzing with students taking courses such as construction, engineering and art and design, the spectacular Roundhouse will once more be connected to its history of innovation and engineering ingenuity.