Country park takeover bids invited by council

A masterplan for the estate was abandoned when estimated costs soared to £50m

A council has said it is "open to all ideas" for the future use of a country park it is looking to sell.

Elvaston Castle and Gardens has been owned by Derbyshire County Council since 1969 but a recent "masterplan" for its future was shelved when predicted costs surged from £35m to £50m.

Just maintaining the listed estate costs the authority £800,000 every year, while it currently makes £400,000 in revenue.

It has triggered a six-month, legally-mandated, asset of community value procedure which allows community groups to come forward with plans ahead of the commercial market.

Ornate fixtures and fittings in many of the rooms add to the complexity of maintenance

The original house dates back to 1633 but the majority of buildings are from the early 1800s and are set in 321 acres of open parkland, woodland and more formal historical gardens.

Council leader Barry Lewis said: "Due to our financial situation we have had to think about its future use. Adult social care and children's services are not getting any cheaper.

"It is beyond our capabilities to maintain this on a day-to-day basis.

"We need to think of long-term solutions for what is a nationally important asset."

The authority has paused much of the work on the estate, committing only to "critical" work "to arrest decline" and maintain safety for visitors and staff, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The council hopes community groups may be able to access grants to help pay for repairs

Elvaston Castle and Gardens Trust, a charity that helps run the estate, has already ruled itself out of submitting a bid.

Chris Henning, the authority's executive director for place, said: "We as a council just can't afford to do what we want to do with it.

"There is inevitably a conservation deficit but we are confident that a group, organisation or individual with the right vision or, frankly, deep pockets, can overcome these issues.

"We are open to all ideas and bids".

While any new custodian of the estate will have to obey rules around how much they can change the listed areas, the council is not attaching any restrictions to retain free entry or public access.

One of the hopes is that community groups will be able to access grant funding in order to make a bid for the site.