Derby’s local plan set to move forward with council vote

Derby will submit its 2043 local plan to the government by December, according to papers poised to be approved by the city council’s cabinet next week.

Earlier this year, the authority held a public consultation on its draft proposals, with the clock now ticking on a government deadline for local authorities to submit their plans under the existing planning system.

The city has been preparing and refining its current local plan since 2021, but would have to start from scratch if it doesn’t submit them to the planning inspectorate for approval by the end of the year, under the new rules.

Assuming a decision to proceed is rubber stamped by councillors on Wednesday, 10 June, its proposals will proceed to a Regulation 19 stage consultation – the final phase prior to submission for approval by the government.

The consultation would run for six weeks, beginning in July.

The plan sets out how Derby is expected to grow over the next 20 years until 2043, covering housing, jobs, transport, infrastructure, environmental protection and regeneration. It will eventually replace the current 2017 local plan, which runs to 2028.

Under the city’s emerging proposals, around 12,500 homes will be built in the city over the period, potentially including more than 5,500 in the city centre itself.

Those plans include the creation of new or enlarged communities around key locations such as Derby Riverside(600 homes), Railway Station Quarter(500 homes), and North Castleward, set to provide 400 homes.

A minimum of 1,400 new homes will also be delivered through the development of mixed-use regeneration schemes within the city centre.

“The conversion of under-utilised upper floors, above shops and other commercial uses provides significant capacity to provide more homes in sustainable locations and in some cases help to secure viable uses for historic buildings,” said the draft local plan document published earlier this year.

“The Council will support conversion of upper floors for residential uses where it would provide high quality living space, respect the significance of heritage assets and not undermine the continuity of ground floor active frontages, whilst also having regard to other relevant policies. Purpose built student housing will be supported in principle, particularly within the University’s City Centre Hub area and wider University District.”

Derby City Council will vote on whether to proceed with the consultation at a cabinet meeting set to be held at 2pm on 10 June.