An historic Derbyshire bank is up for auction with a guide price of £600,000 or more three months after gaining approval for conversion into flats. The former RBS bank in Snitterton Road, Matlock, was granted permission by Derbyshire Dales District Council for conversion into 16 flats.

Now, it is due to be auctioned by SDL Auctions on Thursday, November 21 at 9am with a guide price of £600,000 or more, referring to the site as a “superb investment opportunity”. It details the site will provide eight one-bed apartments ranging from 42-48 square metres and eight two-bed apartments ranging from 71-129 square metres, with “ample” parking space, communal gardens and electric vehicle charging spots.

The advertised auction details that currently part of the grounds are rented out as a car park, bringing in £27,000 a year, with rent of £15,000 per year. Garages are rented for £12,000 a year. Councillors approved plans from Matilda Fraser to turn the historic Grade-II listed former bank, opposite Matlock Bridge, into four flats while 12 further flats would be built in an extension, replacing the existing 1950s extension.

This brought to an end years of to-ing and fro-ing over the prominent site’s future, with previous plans for 22 apartments rejected in 2021 and rebuffed at appeal in 2022. The new design, approved by councillors, would see an extension building featuring a a flat “green” roof with wildflowers, foliage and solar panels, along with swift and bat boxes and a permeable driveway aimed at allowing water to seep through into the ground.

Six of the flats would have balconies and the site would have 14 parking spaces – less than one per flat – with a chunk of the site already sold off to a neighbour to provide them with a rear parking spot. James Boon, agent for the applicants, had said the new design would “help save this historic building” and was a way to find a solution for all involved.

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Residents in a part of Derbyshire are set to be charged for new food waste bins to meet Government plans to separate weekly collections. South Derbyshire District Council, along with all other local councils, is looking at how it can meet Government plans to have separate weekly food waste collections from April 2026.

In a new report, the council says it plans to offer kitchen-top caddies to residents at a “reasonable cost” of £3 each, including delivery. It says previous offers of kitchen-top caddies have received a “low uptake” due to people having their own separate bin already.

Meanwhile, it says it will provide households with one free roll of 52 bin bags (costing £2) as an introductory “incentive” after which residents would be charged £2 per roll, including delivery, or choose to purchase them elsewhere. Residents would be provided with a free 20-23 litre external food waste caddy.

Central Government, under plans from the previous Conservative administration, is covering the cost of providing the scheme for the first year as a “transitional” payment, which also gives local councils money towards purchasing new vehicles and hiring extra staff. For South Derbyshire, it expects to spend £200,000 on caddies, £600,000 on eight 7.5-tonne bin lorries, £865,290 on 24 new staff, £18,000 on fuel and £12,000 on maintenance – to a total of £1.7 million.

District council officers say there are two options being considered for collections. Option one is to collect food waste with brown bins – as is the current policy – with no separate collection one week, and then in week two (the week your black general waste bin is collected) to have a second separate collection of the kerbside caddy.

Option two is to have separate kerbside caddy collections each week. District council officers say option one would be cheaper because it would require fewer vehicles and staff but say Derbyshire County Council – which oversees waste management – wants option two so that food waste can be treated by an anaerobic digester.

The district council says anticipated lead-in times for new vehicles will be 6-12 months from orders being placed. Procurement of these vehicles is being progressed and expressions of interest have been requested with suitable suppliers.

They write: “An additional risk to consider will be the pressure on the supply chain as all local authorities that do not currently collect food waste will be looking to procure vehicles over the coming months.” Amber Valley Borough Council has also expressed concern about the competition for vehicles, with all councils to be vying for new resources.

Borough council officers dubbed the move a “most unhelpful” additional pressure on its budget. Amber Valley and Erewash are the only two Derbyshire councils not to recycle food waste at all, while the Derbyshire Dales is the only authority that already offers a separate collection.

Last year, Daniel Ayrton, Derbyshire County Council’s assistant director of resources and waste, said the food waste collections mandate was a “once in a generation opportunity” to make improvements. He suggested the county bid for contracts on behalf of the districts and boroughs, which collect bins, to save on costs and improve efficiency and competition.

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The building of a community swimming pool in Derby is to be upgraded and be given a huge makeover to avoid it closing to the public because of rising energy costs. Derby City Council has approved important plans to protect the future of Lonsdale Swimming Pool in Bishop Lonsdale Way, Mickleover.

According to its website, the pool is used for children’s and adult swimming lessons, local clubs and schools, as well as being open for public swimming sessions. It is operated by charity Lonsdale Swimming and Sports Trust. A planning application was submitted to the council to give the building a fresh and renovated look “to improve the energy efficiency of the building to reduce running costs”.

Permission was sought to over-clad the building and replace its windows and doors to change its appearance and significantly improve its “thermal envelope” and to meet the current building regulations.

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A design statement on behalf of the trust said: “These works are essential to create an energy efficient building to safeguard its future as a vital community asset. Without the permission for these changes being improved, the likelihood the facility will be able to continue to operate with rising energy costs is very low.

“The proposal for the permission to improve the thermal efficiency of the building, to change its appearance does not cause significant harm to the local context or any heritage assets.”

Last year, it was reported the pool had temporarily closed for around three months due to unforeseen problems and difficulties getting replacement parts. It had been feared at one point by the trustees of the Lonsdale Way pool that it would not reopen at all, especially taking into account the rising cost of running it.

Derby City Council officially approved the plans on October 31. A decision notice from the city council said: “This proposal provides both visual improvements to the appearance of the building, improvements to the thermal efficiency of the building and the opportunity to include micro-generation equipment to off-set the high emery costs associated with the use. As such the proposals accord with all national and local planning policies.

“In dealing with this application the city council has worked with the applicant/agent in a positive and proactive manner and, whilst no amendments to the scheme were necessary in this case, it has been determined in a positive fashion.”

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Major roadworks are taking place on a busy Derby road to help alleviate serious flooding issues in the months and years to come. “Essential” drainage works have started today (Monday, November 4) on Markeaton Lane with the hope that long-term problems can be addressed, especially during the winter and when there are adverse weather conditions.

It is understood the work, being led by Derby City Council, could take a few weeks to complete and warnings of traffic disruption have been issued during the course of the works. A completion date has been set for Friday, November 22 but this could change depending on the speed of the project.

It is understood the works will not affect visitors to Markeaton Park and Markeaton Crematorium over the next few weeks as "access will be maintained for residents and businesses at all times". But traffic disruption is expected on surrounding roads.

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Markeaton Lane is one of Derby's most vulnerable roads for flooding and is often closed following storms. The road connects the Allestree suburb with Mackworth and vice-versa.

Prior to works starting it is understood letters were sent to residents and businesses by city council bosses explaining the reasoning behind the works. But according to Allestree councillor and Derby Mayor Ged Potter, some residents have complained about there being a lack of information prior to the works starting.

Councillors in Allestree say work is also taking place to rebuild a damaged stone-made parapet on one of the road's "sharp bends "which has been "knocked down by drivers".

Overall the works will alleviate flooding issues on the road “which often results in full closures during storm events”. It is hoped the works will improve connectivity for residents, businesses, and visitors going forward, and is an "essential upgrade to the city's infrastructure".

Councillors in Mackworth posted: "We are expecting disruptions whilst we carry out these works, but will be working closely with our traffic management supplier to ensure this is kept to a minimum."

Allestree councillor Ged Potter said: "The work is needed. Markeaton Lane gets regualrly flooded. They are also going to rebuild a parapet which has been knocked down because of several cars going through it in recent years.

A spokesperson for Derby City Council said: “Works are being undertaken on Markeaton Lane at the entrance to Scarsdale Vets to introduce additional road drainage which will allow flood water to drain more effectively during heavy rainfall and following a river flood event. The location sits at a low point where water naturally gathers, so this location is a priority to ensure safety and availability of the highway.

“These works commence on Monday 4th November 2024 and will take up to three weeks to complete. During this time there will be a traffic signal controlled lane closure to protect the workforce and road users.

“There is also a road closure for bridge parapet renewal works on The Markeaton Brook bridge taking place this week (4th-8th November 2024) for which there is a road closure in place. The drainage works have been timed to coincide with this to take advantage of significantly reduced traffic flows across this location for the first week of works.”

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The controversial demolition of offices for a new Leicestershire Lidl store is well under way. Work has begun to flatten the site of Ashfield House in Ashby for the new supermarket, but the move has long sparked fury and concern with residents.

The new “clean and contemporary” Lidl store, which will be within a stone's throw of Ashby's existing Tesco, Aldi and M&S stores, will create 40 jobs. Planning officers at North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) approved the store and the offices' demolition in September despite concern from residents and several councillors.

The Resolution Road scheme has long proven unpopular with residents, some of whom have said they fear the Lidl would lead to traffic “paralysis ” in the area. Others questioned whether the site was the best location for the store, with some suggesting Ashby’s Money Hill development as an alternative.

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However, Lidl’s agents, Rapleys, claimed throughout the planning process that the site was the only “viable” location for the store. The store will take the place of the former offices after Lidl and Rapleys said there was “lack of demand” in retaining them.

NWLDC had previously challenged that claim, but U-turned earlier this year, finding that the loss of Ashfield House was “regrettable” but ultimately “reasonable”. New images from the site this week have revealed progress on the demolition with sections of the former office's rear already torn down, with demolition crews continuing on site.

A completion date on the demolition is unclear at this stage. Lidl have not provided an expeted opening date for the new store.

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