Council Decision To Explore Options To Dispose of Elvaston
We are saddened to learn of Derbyshire County Council’s decision to explore options to dispose of the Elvaston Estate so suddenly.
Having worked on several business plans and business models over the past ten years for Elvaston, we do not currently believe that it would be in the best interests of the estate for The Elvaston Castle and Gardens Trust to submit a bid to purchase the asset under the Asset of Community Value legislation. By taking this position, we are not precluded from talking to anyone interested in acquiring the property, we can continue to champion the environment, restoration, education and accessibility at Elvaston in line with our charitable objectives, protect the jobs of our staff delivering critical onsite programmes and work with potential new partners involved with Derbyshire County Council. We can also continue to be there and support the estate should any proposed sale fail to materialise. Our decision aligns with our commitment to working to find a solution that offers Elvaston long-term sustainability.
We have funding confirmed until June 2026. Over the next 15 months we will continue to run our successful volunteering programme across the estate and also offer our Open House Events and Garden Tours. In addition, we will soon start work on an oral history project to record the memories of those who have lived and worked at Elvaston over the years. Please do get in touch with us should you wish to contribute to this project.
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.
If organisations or individuals would like the Elvaston Castle and Gardens Trust to be part of their plans and to continue the work we are currently developing, we would be happy to discuss this. We can also provide advice and guidance to any interested parties about all aspects of the property.
On this occasion we will not be engaging in social media conversations around this recent announcement and will be turning our comments off for two weeks. If you would like to speak to us about any aspect of the estate or our position, please send us an email at info@elvastoncastle.org.
The Elvaston Castle and Gardens Trust