Elvaston Castle and Estate is a country park on the edge of Derby owned by Derbyshire County Council. It consists of 130 hectares of parkland, a Grade 2 listed castle and Grade 1 listed gardens. 

Over the course of two years we supported Derbyshire County Council and the National Trust to develop a new management body for the Estate in order to ensure a sustainable future for a highly valued public asset. 

The work included initial workshops to explore options for the future governance and management of the site and to map and engage stakeholders who needed to be involved in the development of the work. 

We worked with the clients to recruit a Development Board made up of local people and relevant experts and then facilitated the Development Board to work with the Council to agree a preferred option, investment priorities, timetable, and process for transfer of the asset.

We also supported the work of the National Trust and the Council to develop a business model and masterplan for the development of the site.

Finally we supported the clients to establish, recruit and induct the board for a new charitable trust to take on the management of the site.

The Elvaston Castle and Gardens Trust is now working with the Council on an ambitious programme of restoration and revitalisation of this treasured historic asset and local amenity.