Overview
This project at Bolehill, a village in the Derbyshire Dales achieved the sensitive conversion of a historic mine building to create a bespoke new home with a striking combination of traditional stone contrasting with a contemporary profiled metal clad extension.
Site History– Geologically significant
Planning & Design Practice successfully achieved planning permission for our client, allowing the restoration and conversion of a historic mine building near Cromford, just outside Wirksworth in Derbyshire.
The site consists of a former miner’s building which was in use as a storage building. The building is historically connected with Bage Mine, a highly productive former lead mine.
The mine was worked from at least the mid-18th Century – and very probably much earlier – through to around 1910, yielding a total tonnage of lead ore (galena) that was only exceeded (in the Derbyshire ore field) by Millclose Mine. The mine is also the source of two very rare lead minerals, matlockite and cromfordite, both of which were first identified from this site.
Historic Mine Storage shed to bespoke home
The building itself, according to a document on the Peak District Mines Historical Society website is a former store shed built in connection with the mine. As can be seen from the photographs at the end of the gallery, in its original state, particularly with the way the front elevation had been rebuilt in different materials, it was considered that the building made no positive contribution to the character area and its future was in doubt unless a viable future use could be found.
Working with the planning authority and conservation officer, our proposal was designed to ensure that the traditional and simple industrial/workshop character of the building was retained, constituting a sensitive conversion of the building. The rebuild element to the north of the building has a simple industrial character, again ensuring it is sympathetic to the site. The result is a tasteful 3-bedroom dwelling finished in a combination of traditional limestone, black corrugated metal cladding and render.
Key Planning Issues
- the main building is a masonry construction of limestone. It is of permanent and substantial construction and capable of conversion.
- the building is of a form and design which is consistent with the area.
- as the last remnant of the former Bage Mine, it has considerable historical significance and is worthy of retention. Sympathetic restoration will also help improve understanding of the local Site of Special Scientific Interest
Planning Permission for your Project
Obtaining planning permission can provide you with that dream home in the countryside or maybe the way of life you have always dreamt of.
It can also bring about significant gains and help to maximise the value of your rural property. However, development in the countryside is subject to strict planning controls which can make obtaining planning permission very difficult.
At Planning & Design we have vast experience of working on rural projects for homeowners, landowners and farmers including agricultural dwellings and occupancy conditions, farm diversification schemes and Class Q barn conversions.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for a no obligation consultation to discuss a particular building or project on 01332 347371 or email enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk