Apartments plan for historic rail building approved

Architects Lathams is celebrating after securing planning permission to transform a building in Derby steeped in rail history into apartments.

Derby City Council’s planning committee recently approved plans to turn part of the former Midlands Railway Institute, in Railway Terrace, into 31 apartments.

The building, opposite Derby Midland Station, is currently home to The Waterfall pub, which will remain open, but reduce in size to make way for the new apartments.

In a statement, Lathams, which applied for planning permission on behalf of a private developer, said: “We’re delighted to announce that we received planning approval for a 31-apartment development in the heart of Derby at the locally listed Midland Railway Institute.

“The project will bring a semi-derelict heritage asset back into use and conserve Derby’s historic railway character.”

The property first opened as the home of the Midland Railway Institute in 1895.

At the time, the organisation had around 2,300 members and served as a cultural and educational centre for the Midland Railway workers.

However, according to the planning application, parts of the building have since fallen into a state of disrepair.

The new-look building will feature the existing pub, 15 one-bed apartments, 15 two-bed apartments and another two-bed flat to accommodate four people. A new courtyard will also be created.

The scheme sits within the Railway Conservation Area, where the city council itself has plans to make improvements.

Back in December, its Heritage and Conservation Committee discussed plans to improve the streets surrounding Derby Midland Station in a bid to make it more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly.

This includes refurbished roads, widened and repaved footpaths, new street lighting and bollards and a new look for the war memorial structure.

Part of the works would include improvements to the junction between Railway Terrace, Station Approach and Siddals Road, including wider footpaths and carriageway resurfacing.