Council homes plan in Derby for part of Britain's first public park

The new housing would be on land that has been part of the park since the 1880s

A council housing scheme for disabled and elderly residents is planned on part of Britain's first-ever public park.

A section of Derby's Arboretum has been earmarked for a development of 10 new social homes.

The land, currently inaccessible to the public, is a former bowling green.

The Arboretum public park was created and gifted to the citizens of Derby in 1840 by textile businessman Joseph Strutt.

And the bowling green site has been part of the Grade II*-listed urban park since at least the 1880s, historical Ordnance Survey maps show.

The area is something of a "wasteland", says the council

It was last used as a bowling green in 2005 and more recently housed The Butterfly Project community scheme, before falling into disuse.

Associated buildings were demolished in 2018.

Applicant Derby City Council says the green now "has the appearance of wasteland" and is associated with anti-social behaviour and drug use.

A central green would feature in the development

Now the open area, off Rose Hill Street, could make way for seven two-storey houses and three bungalows, around a central green.

The development would be wheelchair-accessible and adaptable to the needs of residents, says the council.

A decision is expected on the proposals by this summer.