Archive, August 2023: this report concerns the University of Derby’s withdrawn application relating to High Peak Halls. In March 2024, the council said the Home Office had confirmed that the halls would not be used for asylum accommodation.

High Peak Borough Council published a letter on 9 August 2023 addressing questions about the application and the council’s role.

The university withdrew its application for a Certificate of Lawful Development on 7 August, hours before it was due to be considered by the Development Control Committee. The council said officers had recommended refusal. The council leader and deputy leader had called for the proposals to be scrapped.

Council leader Anthony McKeown said the published letter aimed to clarify the council’s role and address issues raised in correspondence. The council said it had not developed the proposal or held pre-application discussions with officers. It said the application referred to use by ‘non-students’ and that it received formal clarification of the intended use on 14 July 2023.

The council also said that, in March 2023, it had identified the area around the halls as unsuitable following consultation with police, citing existing crime and anti-social behaviour. The application drew both objections and support, recorded in the committee update.

Read the council’s 2023 letter and its March 2024 update.