New hope for historic Derby building after council announces 'renewed interest'

The future of a historic Derby building could be secured after buyers expressed an interest in purchasing it. Allestree Hall in Allestree Park went back on the market in summer - following and earlier failed sale - and the new interest means that Derby City councillors are likely to give officers the go-ahead to identify a preferred bidder.

The Grade II*-listed building was first put on the market in 2019 but a deal to turn it into a wedding venue fell through in 2022, following the pandemic. The council does not have the resources to bring the building back into use, so it has been decided that disposal of the building by a long lease would allow it to be renovated, safeguarding its future and preventing it from falling into further disrepair.

A number of outbuildings are included in the sale. The preferred bidder would be expected to take immediate action to prevent further deterioration of the hall, and to maintain access to public toilets at Allestree Park. They would also need to confirm that they will work with the council and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to ensure the future use of the hall aligns with the ongoing community rewilding project at Allestree Park.

Councillor Kathy Kozlowski, city council cabinet member for governance and finance, said: "We have searched for a buyer for a number of years for Allestree Hall, and it’s exciting to see the renewed interest in this historic building, which could lend itself to a variety of uses. With sympathetic restoration, this country house could once again become a jewel.

"Disposing of long leasehold interest means the council can make the best use of this property by handing it over to a developer who can bring it back into use. It will also generate some much-needed income at a critical time for local government finances."

The final date for the submission of bids was November 22 and these are now being evaluated by the council. The three-storey property is in need of wholesale refurbishment, and an exclusive visit by Derbyshire Live in 2018 revealed that many of the rooms comprised bare brick internal walls, missing plaster and ripped-up flooring. It is likely that several million pounds will have to be spent renovating and restoring the building.

But according to Salloway Property Consultants, who have been marketing the building, it still "retains many of the period features and finishes that any successful purchaser will be required to carefully restore and retain".

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Once appointed, the preferred purchaser will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit along with funding and delivering the winterisation works. In parallel to these works the buyer will be required to prepare a planning application for submission.

Upon the receipt of planning and listed building consent, the council will grant a 250-year lease. Upon final completion of the purchaser’s scheme, a 999-year lease will then be granted.

The cabinet meeting at which this will be discussed will be streamed live on the Derby City Council YouTube channel at 2pm on Wednesday, December 4.