Big step forward for new riverside Duke Street housing after years of stalled plans

Derby City Council approved plans in principle last year to build new housing on Duke Street – ending years of stalled plans and inactivity for the vacant site.

The site is situated where the former Britannia Court flats once stood before they were demolished.

It was previously reported that Britannia Court, which contained 64 flats and bedsits, was decommissioned in 2007 after becoming “unsustainable” and quickly became a blight on the area, with police reporting incidents of vandalism, criminal damage and trespassing.

The new development will consist of 12 new homes including four four-bed homes, two three-bed houses and six two-bed homes. Derby Homes will manage the development on behalf of the city council.

Now the city council has approved the necessary planning permission to allow building works to commence in due course – meaning the site will soon no longer be vacant as it has been for years.

A planning report by Derby City Council reads: “The principle of developing this former residential site for new housing is generally supported. It is in a sustainable location in terms of access to local facilities and services and the new homes would contribute to the council’s land supply.

“The proposed development is considered to be sustainable, it being a reasonable form of development in social, environmental and economic terms and there are not considered to be any adverse impacts arising that are so great as to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. Accordingly, it is recommended that planning permission is granted for the development.”

Planning permission was granted in 2018 for Derby City Council to redevelop the area with the creation of a modern four-storey block comprising 26 two-bed flats. However, in 2021 the council stated that the project was being revisited.

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When cabinet approved the project last year, Labour councillor Alison Martin said: “The site has been derelict for some time. I am pleased to see these homes will be built to a very high standard. Overall, I think this is a good development and we will be keeping a close eye on it to ensure the building job around it is a good one.”

But Conservative councillor Jonathan Smale at the time questioned the cost of the scheme. He said: “It is £3.7 million which has been well documented in the media. You only have to look at the comments from the public about the perception of this cost. It does equate to around £316,000 per unit – so my question/challenge would be, do we consider that really good value for money in the long run?”