There is new hope for the future of the historic Allestree Hall following renewed market interest.
The Grade II listed country house, which sits at the heart of Allestree Park, is owned by Derby City Council. A previous sale fell through in 2022 as a result of the Covid pandemic, but recently property agents Salloways have been marketing the hall on the Council’s behalf.
Cabinet Members will be updated on the latest position at their next meeting on Wednesday 4 December, where they will be asked to give the go-head for Council officers to identify a preferred bidder.
As the Council doesn’t have the resources to bring the building back into use, disposal of the building by a long lease would set the scene for its renovation, safeguarding its future and preventing it from falling into further disrepair.
A number of outbuildings are included in the sale. The preferred bidder would be expected to take immediate action to prevent further deterioration of the hall, and to maintain access to public toilets at Allestree Park.
They would also need to confirm that they will work collaboratively with the Council and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to ensure future use of the hall aligns with the ongoing community rewilding project at Allestree Park.
Councillor Kathy Kozlowski, Cabinet Member for Governance and Finance, said:
We have searched for a buyer for a number of years for Allestree Hall, and it’s exciting to see the renewed interest in this historic building, which could lend itself to a variety of uses. With sympathetic restoration, this country house could once again become a jewel.
Disposing of long leasehold interest means the Council can make the best use of this property by handing it over to a developer who can bring it back into use. It will also generate some much-needed income at a critical time for local government finances.
The Cabinet meeting will be streamed live on the Derby City Council YouTube channel at 2pm on Wednesday 4 December.