03 October 2025
Summary: MTVH has led the transformation of the Derby Church Street Community Centre, which has undergone a transformational renovation and will provide a space for the whole community.
MTVH colleagues were delighted to welcome Baggy Shanker MP as he officially reopened the Church Street Community Centre after four years of closure.
Located in the heart of the Normanton and Arboretum communities in Derby, the centre is close to MTVH housing, a bustling high street, and a local mosque. It includes a kitchen and an outdoor area, and dedicated space for a range of events, and activities for MTVH residents and the wider community.
The transformation of the centre was made possible through our partnership with Pinnacle Group, as well as the dedication of MTVH community impact, housing, and workspace services teams. The space had previously been tired and under-equipped, and the refurbishment has created a welcoming environment that residents are encouraged to personalise and shape to reflect their needs.
The re-opening of the community centre came on the same day as the launch of MTVH’s 2025 Community Impact and Sustainability Report, which revealed that our social tenancies generated £1bn in value over the past year.
This includes:
- £660m in public service savings;
- £377m in economic contributions from building and maintaining homes; and
- An average of £34,426 in social value per tenancy.
Speaking to MTVH’s Director of Community Impact Dominic Briant, Baggy Shanker MP said:
“I know local residents will really appreciate the Church Street community centre – it’s a place for them to come together and feel part of a community.
“The collaboration point is really important. Metropolitan have always collaborated with the city generally ever since I’ve known them here.
“Your sustainability report is very good, and it shows going forward there’s lots more that can be done in building homes, building sustainable homes, and working together with local authorities, the local community, and your residents.
He said the future “is going to be really exciting, and it’s really important to make people feel very welcome in the homes you provide.”
“I’m a great believer of working together – everybody benefits.”
Dominic Briant, MTVH’s Director of Community Impact, said:
“I’m delighted that the Church Street Community Centre, much improved, is back open again for local residents, and the reopening was a joyful moment, filled with energy and connection. I’m always struck by the deep sense of pride and togetherness in the communities of Normanton and Arboretum.
“The centre is a space that the whole community will benefit from and make it their own, and it’s testament to the importance of partnership working. I’d like to thank Pinnacle for their contribution, as well as colleagues from across MTVH”.
Below: MTVH colleagues and Baggy Shanker MP pictured at the Church Street Community Centre reopening.
