Derby narrows Great British Railways HQ shortlist to two sites

Great British Railways HQ in Derby now has two shortlisted locations. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Two sites were judged the most viable from a list of five potential locations. They are Becketwell, a brownfield site in the city centre, and Midland House. Midland House is an existing railway building opposite Derby station.

Great British Railways HQ sites in Derby

Derby was announced in March 2023 as the home of the GBR headquarters. That followed a competitive bidding process. It highlighted the city’s rail heritage, existing industry presence and central national location. The city has also been home to a GBR Transition Team office. That office is in John Ellis House. It was first established in 2024. The current process is focused on selecting the final headquarters site within Derby. The host city has already been chosen.

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Transition work and the shortlisted locations

GBR is intended to bring together the work of 17 organisations into a single entity. Until then, Network Rail and the DfT Operator (DFTO) are jointly driving the transition. The final decision on the headquarters location will be based on several factors. These include regeneration and economic value, value for money, and environmental and social impact.

Rail Minister, Lord Hendy said:

Derby will be the heart of Great British Railways and with these shortlisted locations, we’re one step closer to bringing highly-skilled jobs to a city already brimming with rail industry history and talent.

We’re working with local partners and teams around the country to design an organisation that will put passengers front and centre, driving jobs, growth and innovation in the Midlands and beyond.

Becketwell, Midland House and the 2026 decision

A decision on the headquarters site is expected by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, additional sites will be closer to the communities GBR will serve within Great Britain.

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