£20M RIVERSIDE PLAN

Wilson Bowden Developments has submitted a planning application to convert the grade II-listed Derwent Street Magistrates' Court into 44 apartments and to build 130 riverside apartments on the site of the former Full Street police station. The developer bought the site from Derbyshire Police Authority and Derby City Council for a reported £4.25m and held a public exhibition to find out how Derby residents would like to see the site developed. The result includes an 11-storey "landmark" apartment block connected to a four-to-five-storey residential block built around a riverside piazza and underground parking for 132 cars.

People would be able to reach the piazza through an archway beneath the apartments. The piazza would be surrounded on three sides by up to five ground-floor restaurants. The £5m refurbishment of the Charles Aslin-designed court buildings would include the retention of many original Art Deco features, including wood panelling and parquet flooring in the judge's chambers, which would be converted into one of the apartments. Nigel Harris, planning director for Wilson Bowden, said, "We've got a great track record of dealing with listed buildings. The skill is getting apartments in without damaging the fabric of the building."

The 44 single-bedroom and two- bedroom apartments are expected to cost from under £100,000 to about £150,000. Apartments in the rest of the development could cost up to £200,000. Graeme Cosgrove, development director for Wilson Bowden, said that one of the main priorities was to "open up" the River Derwent. "Previous developers in the city have turned their back on the river," he said. "But we want to encourage activity and use of the river front. "The restaurants or café-bars will be very much food-led. The intention is not to create an extension of any drinking circuit in Derby." (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph)

After failing to come up with an acceptable planning application for the Grade II-listed court building, Wilson Bowden now appears to be looking for a way out. Metropolitan Housing Trust, which owns Duckworth Square, and is creating 165 flats in King Street, has revealed that it was first offered the magistrates' court site more than a year ago. And property developer Chek Whyte, who struck the deal that will bring a Jury's Inn hotel to Derby and who is bidding for St Helen's House, has said he is now talking to Wilson Bowden after the company approached him.

Wilson Bowden had planned to begin work on the site in 2005, yet it has not even registered a planning application with the city council. Metropolitan's development director, David Hill, said, "We were offered the magistrates' court site over a year ago but decided we weren't interested. It's a listed building, which will make it a difficult and expensive development for whoever takes it on." It is understood that English Heritage was not happy with the firm's original proposals and it has been unable to come to an agreement in order to submit new plans. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Jul/06)