Step forward set for car park redevelopment

Proposals to redevelop a car park in Derby to enable the creation of affordable homes could soon take a step forward.Derby City Council’s cabinet will discuss the proposed Drewry Lane car park redevelopment on 15 March.Drewry Lane car park has 48 spaces and is one of a number of surface pay and display car parks located along the southern stretch of the Inner Ring Road.The proposed scheme is for 17 properties, comprising a three-storey block of ten one-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom apartment, along with a terrace of six two-bedroom houses.These properties would be owned by the council, managed by Derby Homes, and made available to rent through Derby Homefinder.Cabinet is recommended to declare Drewry Lane to be surplus to the council’s car parking requirements and to enter into all contracts and agreements necessary to complete the scheme within an approved budget.A report for published ahead of the meeting said: “The council has a 30-year business plan for its housing revenue account, with an aim to build or acquire around 100 new homes per year. The main constraint to this is a shortage of suitable and available land to develop.”Therefore, officers continually review council-owned properties that are under-utilised and may become surplus to requirements, to assess their potential for redevelopment.”The scheme has been designed to minimise any impact on the privacy and amenity of existing homes. These residents, and any other interested parties, will be able to comment on the proposals through the statutory planning process.”