Demolition begins on site for 100 city centre flats
PLANS HAD BEEN DESCRIBED AS ‘BULKY’
DEMOLITION work has started to transform a part of Derby city centre into more than 100 apartments.
Hoardings have been erected at the junction of Exeter Place and Derwent Street where bulldozers have moved in on an industrial unit.
The site is located next to the Exeter Arms pub.
The work follows an approved planning application in 2018 to develop the corner of Derwent Street into apartment blocks with a mix of heights.
According to the original planning documents, the tallest point of one of the blocks would be 11 to 12 storeys, going down to nine and five storeys.
The plans were deemed to be controversial at the time as the city’s council conservation officer described the design of the development “bulky” and would have a negative impact on the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
There are two more demolition phases left which include the knocking down of Bio House in Derwent Street before building work can start.
It is not yet known when more demolition work will take place.
However, Marchini Curran Planning, representing developer Garibaldi Ltd, has written to the city council confirming to them the first phase of the demolition work has now been undertaken.
A letter says the first phase of demolition work was completed on Monday, November 15.
The council’s heritage and conservation officer said the development “would be an intrusive visual presence when viewed in approaches to and from the World Heritage Site”.
However, the planning committee gave the project the go-ahead.
The council said planning permission was granted because the development “would result in less than substantial harm to the Grade I Cathedral, City Centre Conservation Area, Nottingham Road Conservation Area and surrounding non-designated assets”.
“Furthermore, there would not be any unreasonable impact upon neighbouring properties including the Exeter Arms, The Tap and Exeter House,” the council added in its decision notice.