Elvaston Castle sale unsuccessful

An attempt to sell Elvaston Castle estate has been unsuccessful and the estate is no longer been marketed for sale, with conversations now under way to “restore this valuable heritage asset” for the “enjoyment of all residents”.

In March this year, the county council, under the previous Conservative administration, had announced it had started the six-month process of offering the 321-acre estate to community groups before releasing it onto the open market.

Now, under Reform leadership, it has confirmed that the search for a new owner has been “unsuccessful” and it is now considering alternative options.

This takes the authority back to square one after nine months in the lurch, with the council also confirming the estate was no longer being marketed for sale.

Cllr Carol Wood, the county council’s cabinet member for net zero and environment, said: “The process that the council followed earlier this year to find another owner for the Elvaston estate was not successful. 

“We’re now having positive and productive discussions with Elvaston Parish Council and Elvaston Castle and Gardens Trust about how we might work in partnership to restore this valuable heritage asset.

“We recognise how important the Elvaston Castle estate is for Derbyshire residents. 

“It is a cherished jewel in the heart of Derbyshire and we are committed to ensuring its future for the enjoyment of all our residents.

“We are pleased to have so much local input and co-operation with a view to exploring the best path forward together. 

“This will take us some time to get right, so we look forward to sharing more when our discussions are a little further advanced.”

Here are a number of alternative options that have been pitched for the Elvaston Castle estate over the years:

• A luxury hotel
• Holiday lets
• A golf course
• Film crew accommodation
• National Trust or English Heritage property

In June, Cllr Robert Reaney, deputy leader of the council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that his administration would do it all it could to avoid the sale of the estate, saying it would be a “last resort”.

Asked at the time if Reform would retract the proposed sale of Elvaston Castle, Cllr Reaney had said: “Possibly we might do. If we can see a path forward and if not then we will have to continue with the process. We are trying to balance the options.

“We are taking a different view from the last administration but if at the end of the day it financially doesn’t make any sense then we can’t do anything, can we?

“We are looking at it.

“I am a heritage fan and if it goes it will be as a last resort in my view, the same with County Hall, if it goes it is a last resort, not a first resort. 

“We have got to be convinced we have exhausted all options before we let it go.”

In October, Cllr Reaney said his administration was “rolling out the red carpet” for a firm to set up a major film studio in Derbyshire, opposite Toyota’s Burnaston headquarters, and that this package would include a plan to use Elvaston Castle and its grounds to accommodate film crews and actors during their shoots.

For years, the Conservative-led county council worked on a regeneration masterplan for the 321-acre Elvaston Castle estate, which the authority has owned for 50 years, but when costs hit £50 million last November, it spiked these plans.

Four months later, the council confirmed it was touting interest for the potential sale of the estate and a week later, in mid-March, revealed it was triggering the six-month asset of community value process.

Costs to the council are now £800,000 per year, with the estate bringing in £400,000 annually – leaving a gap of £400,000 – with most of the cost being on staff to run and maintain the site.

Alongside this is a raft of repairs and maintenance that runs into the millions of pounds, with the council now only committed to “critical” work “to arrest decline” and that which is required to uphold safety for visitors and staff.

The council would have been relying on £13.3 million in grant support for its £50 million plans but said this was no longer available.

Former council leader Barry Lewis had said it was a preference that the site remain open for public access and free to enter.

He said there was interest from private investors and said talks had been held with the National Trust and English Heritage.