Derby: Plans for 12 new council 'family homes' approved

Plans to build 12 new council apartments near Derby city centre are set to start in 2025.

Derby City Council approved the development of the new residential site, which will be located in Barlow Street, close to London Road.

Forming two blocks of six apartments, each home would have three bedrooms, making them "family homes", said the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Works could start as soon as March 2025 because planning permission for the site expires in April.

The Barlow Street site is said to have "easy access" to local schools, the city centre, various shops on London Road and good transport links.

A council report said: "Developing new council homes is set out as a priority in both the council plan 2022-25 and the council delivery plan 2024-25.

"The purpose of developing new council homes is to provide secure, affordable and high-quality homes for people whose housing needs may not be met by the private market.

"Some of the people on the housing register are among the most disadvantaged in the city and the proposed use of the land, targets support towards these people."

At a cabinet meeting on 13 November, Labour councillor Ndukwe Onuoha said: "I am glad we are doing this. The thought of having a place you can comfortably say is yours at the end of the day is heartwarming.

"The thing with temporary accommodation is you never know what's going to happen or what is around the corner. Sometimes you can be one financial decision away from being homeless. This will help families and children settle down."

After building works are complete, a site handover to Derby Homes - which will manage the homes on behalf of the city council - is likely to take place around the summer of 2026 according to the project's anticipated outline programme.