Landmark Derby building future secured as new owner vows 'to do it justice'
The future of a landmark building in Derby – known for attracting headlines for the wrong reasons in recent times – has been secured. SDL Property Auctions has confirmed on its website that the property on Uttoxeter New Road right next to the cemetery has been purchased for £141,000 - £16k more than the minimum guide price set.
The former council-owned building, which used to be known as Cemetery Lodge, is within the grounds of the Uttoxeter New Road cemetery and is seen by hundreds of people each day. But it has caused headlines in the last few years in relation to its previous owner.
The listed building used to be owned by Derby City Council before the authority decided to sell up several years ago. The historic building appeared on the market via Rightmove and the SDL Property Auctions website during the summer.
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But it has now been purchased and is under new ownership. New owner Darren Cooper said he “wants to do justice to the building” after seeing it during an off-chance visit to the city earlier this year.
Mr Cooper said: “I drove past it and it looked quite shabby with loads of vehicles parked there. I then saw it was for auction a few weeks later. I then thought ‘that building deserves to be renewed and made to look like what it should be’. You could tell it wasn’t being looked after.
“I really want to do that building justice. And make it the amazing building which it is.”
But there was alarm at the site in 2022 when it was reported mourners of the cemetery had become upset by the arrival of an abandoned double decker bus – which prompted the council to order it to be removed.
Previous owner of the building Rashpit Lal was told to remove it. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service at the time that the intention was for the bus to be used as a community hub. But cemetery visitors said the bus was an “eyesore” and triggered complaints. The bus was removed but not before it had been vandalised.
There was also dismay earlier in that year when Derby resident Ingrid Marchbank was reduced to tears because she couldn’t visit her late dad’s grave on Father’s Day because the cemetery gates were locked.
The council, who apologised to Ms Marchbank, said it had been in discussions with the property owner to ensure that access was maintained to the cemetery for visitors.
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