Plans to turn part of the former home of the Derby Telegraph into an indoor go-karting centre have been withdrawn amid concerns over flooding from a nearby river.
This summer, go-karting company TeamSport lodged an application with Derby City Council to turn a section of Northcliffe House, in Meadow Road, into its latest centre.
The plans involved a 2,354 sq metre section of the building, which was formerly home to the newspaper’s print and distribution functions and currently occupied by Storage 4U.
However, this week, the city council received notification from Savills, on behalf of TeamSport, that it wished to withdraw the application.
The notification did not specify a reason why it had decided to pull the plans. However, responses received by the authority during the consultation period highlight concerns over potential flooding from the nearby River Derwent.
Last month, heavy rainfall led to the river rising to dangerous levels, flooding part of Meadow Road.
In its response to the plans, the Environment Agency said: “We have considered the findings of the flood risk assessment in relation to the likely duration, depths, velocities and flood hazard rating against the design for the proposal.
“This indicates that there will be a danger to most people (e.g. there will be danger of loss of life for the general public).”
A letter received by the city council from Derby and South Derbyshire Friends of the Earth, objecting to the proposals, makes reference to November’s floods.
It states: “Bass Recreation Ground riverside path was flooded and the river levels reached the footbridge to Northcliffe House, a height of approximately 10 metres from normal river levels here.
“Later in the evening people were trapped at Northcliffe House by the floodwaters and had to leave vehicles and wade through water waist-deep in the underpass.
“The footbridge was completely covered by water and Northcliffe House was surrounded by floodwaters on three sides, apart from at the back, next to the railway line/embankment.
“Unsustainable developments have been permitted along the riverbanks/floodplain/washland in the city/upstream/downstream.
“These have increased water run-off, taken up valuable and much-needed washland and introduced more people/children into those areas.
“The submitted plans will induce an increased number of children to a designated Flood Zone 3. The potential for children to be harmed, is considerable.”
The Derby Telegraph vacated Northcliffe House in 2014, moving to Siddals Road. Since then, parts of the building have been put to various uses.
TeamSport is the largest indoor go-karting company in the UK, operating 34 centres in cities such as London, Coventry, Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle and Cardiff, predominantly on industrial estates.
According to its application for the Derby site, the proposed centre would have created around 30 jobs, including six full-time roles.
