New driving test centre for city approved

A new driving test centre for Derby which it is hoped will help cut waiting times for learner drivers has been approved.

The city council has backed plans for a new facility to be located at Chatsworth House at Aspen Drive, Raynesway.

It comes as recent figures revealed learner drivers had to wait an average 20 weeks, or about five months, for a practical test, despite attempts to reduce delays.

The Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) said tests would start and finish on the Raynesway site and could take place during weekends. It has not confirmed when the centre will open.

The scheme will see a change to the use of the ground floors of Chatsworth House – within the Prime Business Centre – from office space to a driving test centre.

In planning documents seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the DVSA said the current test centre in Derby, on Quintin Road in Alvaston, had "reached the end of its operational life and is no longer fit for purpose."

The building's limitations, it added, "now present operational inefficiencies and risk service disruption".

The application also stated: "Relocation to this site will support the DVSA's ability to deliver consistent, high quality car driving tests, safeguard local testing capacity, and meet ongoing customer demand without interruption."

Planning permission was officially granted on 15 September.

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