Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Strategic Planning, and Regulatory Services, reflects on the past year and looks ahead to 2026.
Over the last year, we have achieved so much, and we are continuing to make progress as outlined in our manifesto commitments. Our officers have been busy delivering new homes, improving standards in the private sector, and keeping residents across Derby safe. This work sits at the heart of our commitment to building a fairer, safer, and more resilient city.
As we look back, I want to thank our officers and partners who have worked tirelessly to serve the people of Derby. Despite the continued challenges that local authorities across the country are facing, we have taken practical steps to improve our city.
Increasing the supply of affordable housing has been key. A planning application has been submitted for the former Ivy House School site – now a vacant site – to deliver 18 new affordable homes. A pre-application for planning is about to be submitted for another site which will provide 21 new 3 to 6 bed homes.
Across the city, six new affordable homes were delivered at Brentford Drive, and a further two at Whittaker Street. Registered providers have also delivered 96 new affordable homes between April and December.
Construction has also begun on several developments. Work started over the summer on 36 new bungalows at Blackmore Street, and 12 new affordable homes are also being delivered at Barlow Street, providing high-quality affordable homes for residents. Work has also progressed on another 3 sites which started last year, and they will be complete in early 2026 providing a further 51 new homes.
I’m incredibly proud that Lonsdale Place won the APSE award for Best Building and Housing Initiative 2025. This scheme has already delivered 46 flats for temporary accommodation, and work is underway to increase the total number of flats to 95.
Nationally the number of empty homes has been increasing but in Derby we have reduced the number by working with owners to bring them back into use. This year alone we have manged to get 84 long term vacant properties back into use.
Improving housing standards has been another focus. The introduction of the Article 4 Direction, following concerns from residents, means that new smaller HMOs require planning permission in certain wards. Alongside this, the Safer Renting Derby project has allowed us to improve living conditions in some of the most deprived areas of the city, notably Arboretum, Abbey and Normanton wards. This year, we have supported 987 residents by working with landlords to improve the safety of their properties. We have also supported 594 tenants by improving energy efficiency measures, lowering their utility costs and carbon emissions.
The Local Plan will also be a key focus in 2026, where it will reach a key stage in January, going to the public for consultation on where, for instance, the 12,500 new homes should be built. The Plan must also allocate land for a permanent traveller site. Focussing on council-owned land, we have taken on board the views of the cross-party working group who recommended part of Wilmorton Recreation ground – this will also form part of the consultation.
Our Trading Standards team has also had a strong year, working to keep residents safe. Using the banking protocol to assist vulnerable Derby residents, officers were able to secure a £13,300 refund for a vulnerable resident. Officers have continued to deliver scam awareness talks, including more vulnerable residents such as those over 60.
A recent operation in and around the city saw the removal of hundreds of fake Labubu dolls which posed a choking and chemical hazard to children. The team also removed dozens of unsafe cosmetic products from shelves as part of a wider East Midlands initiative to protect consumers.
Looking to the new year, I will continue to prioritise the essential work in these services. I am looking forward to seeing the completion of the affordable housing developments alongside the additional temporary accommodation flats. I will continue to support residents in Derby, and I’m looking forward to a promising New Year for the city.