As we edge ever closer to a determination by Amber Valley District Council of the Belper Mills planning application submitted by First Investments, it’s no surprise that our UNESCO status is in the news. There’s a lot at stake here; not only the future of the Belper Mills but also our World Heritage status.
Our Belper Mills Chair, Roger Moors featured on Radio Derby on Tuesday 24 September (see below 1) and made the case for a partnership approach (public/private) which could give rise to new jobs, housing, skills development and opportunities for net zero.
This followed a day after Derek Latham, chair of the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust was seen on BBC news making the case for the restoration of the Mills ( see below 2) saying “It can be part of a major regeneration of Belper, not only to rescue it, but to turn it into a jewel of the world heritage site, which it deserves to be,”
If you’re interested in understanding more about the viability of the current planning application, take a look at the recent independent report undertaken by Amion Consulting and commissioned by the county council on behalf of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site (DVMWHS) Partnership in February 2023 (see below 3)
A date for the planning determination isn’t known as yet but when it is, OBM will keep you informed of the decision and its implications.
1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0jngdth audio starts 20: 44