Care home plan for historic surplus council building

A prominent Derby City Council building, which was declared surplus to requirements, has been sold to a residential care home operator.

Ashtree House has been sold at auction for £920,000 – nearly double its original guide price – to Godfrey Care, a specialist care provider that manages several residential homes across the region.

For many years, Ashtree House was a key site for the city council’s Children’s Services , serving as a dedicated hub for supervised family visits.

However, a fire at the neighbouring La Gondola site made the building unsafe for continued use.

Councillor Kathy Kozlowski, the city council’s cabinet member for governance and finance, said: “The decision to sell Ashtree House is part of our ongoing commitment to responsible asset management and achieving ‘best value’ for the people of Derby.

“Ashtree House has a long and proud history of service, but as our requirements for modern office and service space evolve, it is essential that we make the best use of our buildings and land.”