Elvaston Castle: Trust 'saddened' at future plans for estate
A charity that helps run a stately home and grounds says it is "saddened" at council plans to off-load the site "so suddenly".Elvaston Castle and Gardens Trust said Derbyshire County Council was looking at a proposal to transfer the 17th Century home and country park to an outside organisation.It comes five months after council bosses scrapped a £35m masterplan and it was deemed "no longer financially viable".A spokesperson at the county council told the BBC it was "exploring options" for the estate's long-term future, but "no decision had been made".
Under the masterplan, Elvaston Castle had been set to receive a new cafe, access road and car park along with restoration work on many of its listed buildings.But in November 2024, the council's cabinet agreed to reconsider due to costs rising since the proposal was first submitted.
The ideal outcome
The trust has worked on several business plans and business models over the past ten years.But it does not currently believe it would be in the "best interests" of the estate to submit a bid to purchase it under the Asset of Community Value (ACV) legislation.The legislation is designed to protect community buildings from inappropriate development and changes of use. The trust has confirmed funding until June 2026.However, it said, it was "not precluded from talking to anyone interested in acquiring the property".A spokesman for the trust said: "Our ideal outcome would be an organisation or individual that is committed to public access, has a desire to share and develop the heritage assets at Elvaston and has the funds available, or has a fundraising strategy, to restore the property fully. "We would be happy to talk to any organisations or individuals who believe they are in a position to do this and require further information or insight."
'Financial pressures'
Derbyshire County Council said it was inviting interest from organisations that may be capable of taking on the estate and a formal notice would be published allowing for "public engagement".The council added it has discussed the proposal with the trust which is "supportive"."Elvaston Castle requires significant investment to secure its future, and the council is not best placed to provide this," a spokesperson said. "No decisions have been made, and the council remains committed to protecting this much-loved heritage site for its communities."The estate costs around £400,000 a year to run, and with ongoing financial pressures, we need to explore sustainable solutions. "We remain open-minded and welcome discussions with community groups and other potential partners."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Three ways latest Middle East crisis could make life more expensive in the UK
One of the big lessons from Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was how a war hundreds of miles away can have an impact on daily life in the UK. As the price of a barrel of oil shot up, so did our energy bills, and the cost-of-living crisis that was already hitting households hard was exacerbated. It now appears that Iran and Israel are on the path towards a full-scale regional war, with neither country paying much attention to international calls for calm heads. As death tolls rise and destruction spreads, many Brits will be concerned about where it's all going to end – and wonder if we're likely to see a repeat of three years ago. Asked if the government could step in to pay steep energy bills, as the Conservatives did in 2022, Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the BBC: 'I'm not taking anything off the table.' However, she cautioned: 'We're not anywhere near that stage at the moment – indeed, in July, average energy bills are going to come down by about £100 a year.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Unsurprisingly, events in the Middle East – one of the world's top oil producing regions – have an impact on the price of oil. Following Israel's attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites on Friday, the cost of a price of a barrel of oil jumped sharply. But there's a risk the knock-on effects for Brits are much more broad. The increase in energy prices largely resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was so significant, the government decided to step in and offer an 'energy price guarantee'. If it had not, the price cap for bills could have been pushed north of £4,000 for the typical household. The invasion pushed oil prices to almost $130 a barrel, meaning costs to suppliers soared, and that was passed down to customers. After an initial jump of 10% after Israel's first strikes on Friday, the cost of a barrel of oil has dropped back to $75 – lower than it was in January. But the big question is whether this conflict will continue for more than a few days or a couple of weeks. That could result in higher prices on a more sustained level, which could feed through to bills. The Bank of England's base interest rate has a direct impact on households across the country, as it is widely used to set the interest rate on mortgages. It's also used by the Bank to try and push down inflation when it gets a bit too high – when the interest rate is increased, people spend less in the economy, which brings down inflation. Since inflation in the UK has fallen from its extreme high in 2022, the Bank has steadily decreased its interest rate over the past year, easing the pressure on people with a mortgage to pay. But high energy prices mean items in shops get more expensive, and if they become more expensive than they were a year ago – well, that's the definition of inflation. Dr Muhammad Ali Nasir, an Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Leeds, explained the potential impact. He told Metro: 'If the increase in energy prices causes another round of sharp increase in inflation, the central bank could change the direction of their policy and start to increase the interest rates again, causing more pain to the household and firms in terms of their borrowing costs.' A sustained increase in energy prices would be enough to increase the cost of a weekly shop in the UK on its own. But that's not the only way the conflict between Israel and Iran could have an impact. There have been concerns Iran could try to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital supply line for global oil as it links the oil fields of the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and wider ocean. But Dr Nasir suggested events could lead Iran's Houthi allies to step up their attacks on ships in the Red Sea, which leads to the Suez Canal. He said: 'This could be a massive shock to global trade which is already suffering due to the [US-China] trade war. On top of that, the economist said there is a 'sharp increase in the uncertainty around the economic and trade policy due to the conflict' as the world wonders what will happen next. 'Overall, this conflict is the last thing the global economy wants at the moment,' he said, before adding: 'Of course, loss of human life is an even bigger issue.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: All 9 countries on the UK Foreign Office 'no go' travel list MORE: Is it safe to travel to Cyprus? Latest Foreign Office tourist advice after Israel strikes Iran MORE: UK advises against all travel to Israel after conflict with Iran escalates
Glasgow Times
6 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow travellers 'not to travel' to Middle Eastern country
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated travel advice on Sunday, June 15, to advise 'against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories'. David Lammy has said that the safety of British nationals 'remains our top priority'. Israel and Iran, both in the Middle East, continued to exchange fire overnight, after Sir Keir Starmer said that the UK was sending more RAF jets to the region amid the increasing hostilities. Glasgow travellers told not to travel to Middle Eastern country - Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (Image: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire) The FCDO website warns that 'travel insurance could be invalidated' if people travel against the advice, and describes the current status as a 'fast-moving situation that poses significant risks'. Earlier on Sunday, Rachel Reeves said that sending more jets to the region 'does not mean' the UK is at war. Additional refuelling aircraft have been deployed from UK bases, and more fast Typhoon jets will be sent over, it is understood. The Chancellor also indicated that the UK could 'potentially' support Israel, but declined to comment on 'what might happen in the future'. Asked whether the announcement from the Prime Minister means the UK is at war, Ms Reeves told Sky News: 'No, it does not mean that we are at war. 'And we have not been involved in these strikes or this conflict, but we do have important assets in the region, and it is right that we send jets to protect them, and that's what we've done. 'It's a precautionary move.' READ MORE: Glasgow holidaymakers warned after earthquake in Turkey READ MORE: Glasgow holidaymakers travelling to Thailand warned READ MORE: Glasgow travellers heading to South America warned of muggings Oil prices surged on Friday, June 13, after Israel's initial strikes against Iran's nuclear programme, sparking fears of increasing prices in the UK. The Chancellor told the BBC that there is 'no complacency' from the Treasury on the issue and 'we're obviously monitoring this very closely as a government'. Sir Keir has declined to rule out the possibility of intervening in the conflict entirely, and the Chancellor indicated on Sunday that the UK could 'potentially' support Israel in the future. Britain last announced it had deployed fighter jets in the region last year, when the Government said British aircraft had played a part in efforts to prevent further escalation. Asked whether the UK would come to Israel's aid if asked, the Chancellor told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: 'We have, in the past, supported Israel when there have been missiles coming in. 'I'm not going to comment on what might happen in the future, but so far, we haven't been involved, and we're sending in assets to both protect ourselves and also potentially to support our allies.' Pushed again on whether the UK would deploy assets in support of Israel if asked, she said: 'What we've done in the past is help protect Israel from incoming strikes. 'So a defensive activity.' She added: 'I'm not going to rule anything out at this stage, it's a fast-moving situation, a very volatile situation.' The FCDO advises against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. British nationals should continue to follow the advice of local authorities. — Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) June 15, 2025 In a statement on X, the UK's FCDO said: "The FCDO advises against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. "British nationals should continue to follow the advice of local authorities."
Leader Live
8 hours ago
- Leader Live
More jets does not mean UK ‘at war' says Reeves, amid Israel-Iran conflict
The Chancellor also indicated that the UK could 'potentially' support Israel, but declined to comment on 'what might happen in the future'. The two nations continued to exchange fire overnight, as the region braced for a protracted conflict. Sir Keir Starmer confirmed on Saturday that more RAF planes are being deployed, amid the escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. Additional refuelling aircraft have been deployed from UK bases and more fast Typhoon jets will be sent over, it is understood. Asked whether the announcement from the Prime Minister means the UK is at war, Ms Reeves told Sky News: 'No, it does not mean that we are at war. 'And we have not been involved in these strikes or this conflict, but we do have important assets in the region and it is right that we send jets to protect them and that's what we've done. 'It's a precautionary move.' Oil prices surged surged on Friday after Israel's initial strikes against Iran's nuclear programme, sparking fears of increasing prices in the UK. The Chancellor told the BBC that there is 'no complacency' from the Treasury on the issue and 'we're obviously, monitoring this very closely as a government'. Sir Keir has declined to rule out the possibility of intervening in the conflict entirely, and the Chancellor indicated on Sunday that the UK could 'potentially' support Israel in the future. Britain last announced it had deployed fighter jets in the region in last year, when the Government said British aircraft had played a part in efforts to prevent further escalation. Asked whether the UK would come to Israel's aid if asked, the Chancellor told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: 'We have, in the past, supported Israel when there have been missiles coming in. 'I'm not going to comment on what might happen in the future, but so far, we haven't been involved, and we're sending in assets to both protect ourselves and also potentially to support our allies.' Pushed again on whether the UK would deploy assets in support of Israel if asked, she said: 'What we've done in the past (…) is help protect Israel from incoming strikes. 'So a defensive activity.' She added: 'I'm not going to rule anything out at this stage (…) it's a fast moving situation, a very volatile situation.' It comes after Iranian state media said Tehran had warned it would target US, UK and French bases in the region if the countries help Israel thwart Iran's strikes, according to reports on Saturday. Conservative shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride has backed the Government's decision to send further RAF jets to the region, telling the BBC it is the 'right thing' to do. He told the BBC: 'We've got assets out there in the UAE, Oman, Cyprus, they need to be protected given that Iran has suggested they may be under threat.'
