Elvaston Castle Country Park is owned by Derbyshire County Council. As part of their Masterplan the council will be seeking planning permission to construct a new access roundabout on the B5010 at Thulston, a 1.5km access road bisecting open parkland and a 500 space car park with possible overflow for 300 more vehicles. The car parks will be located adjacent to the Local Nature Reserve. The amended planning application is available on Derbyshire County Council’s planning portal Ref No: CD/9/0222/34 which has a consultation end date of 12/5/23. Please continue to object with valid comments either on the portal or by email direct to Planning Services quoting the above reference with your name and address given in full. The proposals and final submitted planning application can be seen to be far reaching and more environmentally damaging than first expected. Determination of the application will be by the Planning Regulatory Committee later this year.
The proposed development will involve the destruction of dozens of trees including a large proportion of Rookery Wood and mature oaks south of the B5010 which are subject to tree preservation orders, leading to the complete loss of the habitats that they support. The proposals will lead to higher levels of noise, light and pollution within the local area and will substantially increase the community’s carbon footprint releasing hundreds of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. The application confirms a minimum of 1607 construction vehicle movements alone to remove the soil for the access road. Our campaign believes that the existing access and car parking facilities can be adapted to the needs of any development compatible with the country park’s historic status and to ensure maximum biodiversity and green space. It is interesting to note that planners for the county council are unable to guarantee the future restoration of the formal gardens.
The Elvaston Castle Action Group has always supported sympathetic restoration of both the castle and the historic gardens and drafted their alternative proposal in 2018. This proposal identified funding sources and project ideas to restore the beauty of Elvaston Castle Country Park whilst remaining sympathetic to and protecting the environment and wildlife biodiversity. Over 10,500 people supported these ideas and signed a petition against Derbyshire County Council’s damaging road infrastructure proposals.
All funds raised will be used in the campaign to protect Elvaston Castle Country Park’s precious environment for future generations and any surplus generated will fund additional community schemes within the local area to enhance natural wildlife biodiversity and to fight climate change and global warming. The group and Elvaston Parish Council has sought the assistance of specialists in environmental and planning law. The first legal response to the application has been submitted as an objection and a reply has been received from Derbyshire County Council. Both documents are available to view on the Elvaston Parish Council website. www.elvaston-pc.org.uk
The legal advice received suggests that the planning application is unlawful on many points as currently submitted and calls into question the economic viability of the proposed new infrastructure. The environmental damage is not disputed but the application appears to fail under EU Directives regarding Economic Impact Assessment of the entire Masterplan. This campaign now fully supports additional legal advice at planning determination, appeal if required and judicial review. Donations to this crowdfunding page are helping to ensure the long term protection of the country park and are so gratefully received. Every pound given is making a huge difference to the success of the campaign.
This will be a once in a generation and final opportunity to contribute to the saving of open parkland and wildlife at Elvaston Castle Country Park that has been loved by the residents of Derbyshire and visitors from all over the United Kingdom for over fifty years.
Please help Elvaston Castle Action Group if you can. Thank you.