Developer gets go-ahead to turn former office building into flats

Plans to turn a prime Derby city centre site into a residential development have finally been given the go-ahead.

Middleton House, a vacant office block in the city’s Cathedral Quarter, will be redeveloped into 53 apartments.

This is a reduction on the 77 flats planned for the site in October of last year, with a proposal to build two four-storey apartment blocks now dropped from the scheme.

A statement from Severns Developments said: “The refurbishment of the property for residential will deliver a development that adds diversity to the area of residential and commercial activity, generating higher activity levels and employment opportunities.”

Middleton House was put up for sale by Derby City Council in 2016, and sold in Autumn 2017 to Adam Cavell’s City and County Property Management. Cavell also owns Severns Developments.

Back then, Cavell said: “We are very excited as a company to have acquired Middleton House from Derby City Council. This site represents our first development in Derby, which we see as our flagship for further and continuous redevelopment and investment within Derby City centre.

“We see Derby as a rapidly developing city with potential to rival the larger cities within the East Midlands. Middleton House is located in a highly attractive area on St Mary’s Gate within the Cathedral Quarter. As a company, we have historically specialised in the redevelopment of listed buildings and take pride in restoring dilapidated buildings to their former glory. We see Middleton House as such a building and are looking forward to starting restoration works.”