Friar Gate Goods Yard: Derelict site to be turned into homes

The residential section includes homes and apartments

A former railway site in Derby left derelict for 56 years is to be transformed into homes and business spaces.

Wavensmere Homes and Clowes Developments want to build a mix-use space with 274 homes at Friar Gate Goods Yard near the city centre.

The plan also includes restoring two fire-damaged Grade II listed buildings.

The development was approved by Derby City Council's planning committee on Thursday.

An artist's impression of how the Bonded Warehouse could look

The goods yard, off Stafford Street, was built in the 1870s and has been derelict for more than half a century.

New housing will be laid out in a series of boulevards referencing the route of the historic train lines which ran through the site.

The residential section also includes a four-storey apartment block fronting onto Stafford Street.

Building work will take place in six stages.

The historic Bonded Warehouse and Engine House sites will be turned into commercial spaces and could include new shops and restaurants, a gym and offices.

But the construction would mean the demolition of some railway arches next to Friar Gate Bridge.

Police drone footage showing the extent of the damage caused by the fire to the building

James Dickens, managing director of Wavenswere Homes, told the BBC he was "delighted" the development had been passed and was "excited to restore two iconic buildings".

"It's so special - it's a top three landmark of the city centre and I can't wait to get to get started on it," he said.

"The Bonded Warehouse is the star of the show - it's such a special building and it needs to be a public building. We need to get people back in there enjoying that space.

"People have seen it derelict for 56 years and to see it come back into use reanimated will transform that part of the city centre."

How the open area on the site could look

Martin Rawson, Labour and Co-operative councillor for Chaddesden West, who backed the plan, said he welcomed the application on a site that had been "an eyesore for many years".

But he added he was concerned about the loss of the railway arches, which he felt would be "detrimental to Derby's rail heritage and history".

Lucy Care, Lib Dem councillor for Littleover, who abstained, raised concerns about the size of the residential units.

The site has been derelict for more than 50 years