Plans to move Derby Coroner’s Court into the city centre are to be considered by Cabinet when it meets on 11 February.
If proposals are approved, inquests would be held in a refurbished area of Riverside Chambers, instead of the current site in Chester Green.
The Coroner’s Service is a statutory function delivered by Derbyshire County Council in partnership with Derby City Council and operates courts in Derby and Chesterfield.
The lease on its current Derby location at St Katherine’s House expires in July 2026, creating an opportunity to relocate the service into a council-owned building that is better suited to long-term use.
If proposals are approved, the new location will provide more room for the public and legal professionals, including two courtrooms and larger waiting areas.
The rooms at Riverside Chambers would also be refurbished and fitted with modern technology, such as updated digital systems and better sound and screens for hearings.
Councillor Kathy Kozlowski, Cabinet Member for Governance and Finance, said:
Inquests are important events that are required by law and should take place in surroundings that are best suited to serving the needs of the Coroner as well as providing families and loved ones with reassurance and dignity. The current building places real limits on how the service can operate and cannot easily be adapted to modern standards.
With the lease ending in 2026, this is a timely opportunity to move into a council-owned building that better supports families, staff, and court users, while also making sensible, long-term decisions about how we manage and improve our buildings.
The proposals are part of the Council’s wider asset rationalisation programme. The programme aims to consolidate services into buildings best able to deliver consistent standards and make effective use of council-owned assets. Relocating the Derby Coroner’s Service into a suitable council-owned property supports this approach.
Cabinet will also be asked to approve £400,000 from existing budgets within the Property capital programme to fund the relocation of the Coroner’s Service and associated works. Work could begin later this year.
The Cabinet meeting will take place on Wednesday 11 February and can be viewed on Derby City Council’s YouTube channel