About Us
The Derby City Lab is a true public/private partnership success story, based on the concept of Urban Rooms in cities such as London, Amsterdam and Shanghai.
Partners in the Lab include Marketing Derby, Derby City Council, University of Derby, Lathams, Derbion and Clowes – all of whom recognise it as a valuable tool in terms of engaging the wider public.
What happens at the Lab?
The Lab is a hub for engaging the wider community in better understanding the evolution of the city and the investment pipeline.
Come in and find out more about how the city is changing. Explore the City Living Room which showcases Derby’s 300-year innovation history and hosts a range of exhibitions and discussion groups focused on ideas to regenerate Derby.
Why not share your view on the development of our place…
View the brand new Derby City Model
Commissioned for 2024, a new detailed 3D model of Derby city centre has been unveiled at the Derby City Lab to help visitors visualise the city’s ongoing regeneration story.
The model features familiar landmarks as well as developments in the pipeline and is similar to those found in other city labs.
Featuring over £1.9bn of investment projects and £672m developments in the pipeline, the 2.5-metre-long model is the first comprehensive Derby model of its kind.
You can view the model by visiting the City Lab on level 2 of the Derbion.
Award-winning Partnership
The partnership behind Derby City Lab has been recognised with a prestigious national award. The collaboration behind the concept scooped the Public/Private Partnership Award at the EG Awards 2023.
Upcoming exhibitions and events
There’s always something different going on at the Lab. Pop-in to find out more.
Our history
The Derby City Lab was created in 2022. Its first edition was based in the historic Cathedral Quarter in Derby city centre, at 19-21 St James’s Street, placing us at the heart of the city’s regeneration frontline.
It hosted a range of events, workshops and exhibitions by a diverse group of organisations and welcomed over 1,200 visitors.
At the end of 2023, the Lab closed its doors on its first chapter to move across the city to a new location and wider audience in Derbion shopping centre.
The Lab reopened in Derbion in March 2024. This phase saw the launch of the new 3D Derby City Model and featured the University of Derby’s Urban Sustainable Transition (DUST) project, along with film footage of key city regeneration sites.
It also served as a hub for focus groups and discussions, hosted polls, and received over 800 engagements on its ‘Dream for Derby’ wall – attracting nearly 19,000 visitors during this period.
The Derbion edition of the Lab closed in May in readiness for its relocation to the newly redeveloped £35.1 million Derby Market Hall, which reopened its doors on 24 May 2025.
