Derby Castleward 'urban village' plans approved

A £100m deal to create the Castleward village was signed by the developers and city council in 2011

Plans for an 840-home urban village in Derby have been approved.

Derby City Council agreed the £100m Castleward scheme, which will link the Westfield shopping centre with the city's railway station.

Councillors were concerned the development lacked car parking spaces, but officials said they were confident one space per home was enough.

Work on the first phase should start by the end of the year, with homes and business premises for sale next year.

The project will also include a school, community centre, a bridge to the Bass recreation ground and green spaces.

'New buzz'

Dave Bullock, managing director of developers Compendium Living, said he was delighted.

"We hope that following this decision we will be moving towards a start on site later this year," he said.

"We very much want to see new development in the area and a new buzz about Castleward."

The first phase, consisting of 163 homes, was given full permission, while phases two to five were approved in outline.

Councillors said they wanted to see how the first phase coped with relatively few car parking spaces, ahead of approving later phases.

But Sara Booty, planning officer at Derby City Council, said the amount of parking did not concern her department.

"Because it is the city centre, close to the station, we consider one car space per dwelling is acceptable," she said.