On behalf of Elevate Property Group and Homes England, the Ridge planning team is delighted to have obtained planning permission for 260 dwellings and associated works at Liversage Street, Derby.
The site is brownfield land currently used as a car park and commercial space, which is situated within Castleward, one of the Council’s strategic regeneration sites for housing delivery. It is a brownfield site which features on the Council’s Brownfield Register.
The approved scheme is the subject of two separate applications which was necessary due to land ownership.
The team at Ridge, who led the scheme, carried out extensive pre-application discussions with the LPA and interested parties. In submitting the applications, Ridge provided a robust case to demonstrate that the proposals;
- Represented the redevelopment of a brownfield site, which currently has an adverse impact on the environment.
- Helped meet the housing needs of Derby City Council, maintaining their 5 year housing land supply and meet the objective of significantly boosting housing land supply that is a key Government objective.
- Would be of significant economic benefit through job creation during construction and the subsequent investment that will benefit the city through increased footfall from the development.
- Help deliver the regeneration of the wider area.
- The site is considered to be in a very sustainable location, being close to the city centre and train station. It will consequently encourage sustainable modes of transport.
Whilst the LPA initially wanted to see houses on the site, Ridge argued that a mix of apartments and houses, with a variety of tenures and dwelling sizes, reflected its city centre context and is appropriate to the primary roads of the Castleward Boulevard and John Street. Ridge were able to demonstrate that in line with local plan policies, the proposal will provide a mix of dwelling sizes and tenures in order to attract a diverse population.
The aspiration is for the ‘Eastern Fringes’ of the City to become a vibrant new residential neighbourhood that will complement the City Centre economy and breathe new life into an underutilised area. It is the intention that the approved development will kickstart the regeneration of the wider area within the city centre.
The team at Ridge succeeded in negotiating the permissions (subject to S.106) as delegated approvals without provision of affordable or other contributions. However, as a gesture of goodwill, it has been agreed that a contribution across both sites of £180,000 towards the provision of a new primary school in Castleward and infrastructure provision will be made.
