Developer appeals against apartment plan rejection

The former library was sold in 2018 and opened in 2021 as a shopping centre

A dispute over developing land next to a historic Derby building will continue after developers appealed against a city council refusal of plans.

The former Pear Tree Library on Pear Tree Road in Normanton, which is locally listed, was converted into a shopping area for small businesses in 2021.

Plans for a three-storey, nine-apartment block next to it were rejected by the council earlier this year as it would "disrupt" the area.

Now documents show developers 2i Investments, which said the block would deliver much-needed housing, have appealed against the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.

Heritage asset

The existing building – originally known as the Carnegie Library – is locally listed, meaning it does not quite meet the criteria for being nationally listed, but has architectural or historical importance to the local area.

In February, city planning bosses rejected the plan for nine apartments, ruling it would be "directly abutting the locally listed building and therefore disrupt the heritage asset and its setting".

Documents have now been published online showing 2i Investments has appealed against the council's refusal to the Planning Inspectorate.

In a statement of case report, the firm argues the design of the flats would intertwine fittingly with the historical building and its setting – not harm it.

It said: "It is the appellant's position that in the context of the appropriate test and having regard to the local listing description and the proposed development; that the proposal would maintain all aspects and characteristics informing the qualities of the building sought to be protected in the first place.

"It brings forward a provision of development that is located to the rear of the former library building, providing a predominant interrelationship with the flat roofed, single-storey, rear projection areas that clearly offer no measurable architectural value to the building."

No timescale for the appeal has been confirmed.