Client Background: Over the Wall Camp
Over the Wall Camp is a UK based charity for children and young people with health challenges and disabilities. OTW Camp provide a safe place to step outside of comfort zones, establish friendships and build confidence through meaningful and exciting activities. The charity state:‘25 years ago, in 1999, Paul Newman founded Over The Wall Camp for children living with long-term health conditions and disabilities. Since then, we have provided our camps for over 17,000 campers.’
Project Overview – Ockbrook School
Listed Building Consent was sought for a single storey extension and alterations to former school and nursery buildings at Ockbrook School to facilitate use as a children residential activity camp (including the change of use of The Mews from a nursery to a C2 use to align with the remainder of the site), and associated landscaping works to facilitate their re-use. The site is situated in a sensitive location an 18th century Moravian settlement is of high historical value as one of only a limited number of surviving Moravian settlements. Ockbrook Moravian Settlement (now a conservation area) was founded in 1750 it is considered as one of only three such settlements nationally. The six acres and listed red brick buildings, include the Church, Manse, school, and houses; all well-preserved. The settlement has significant heritage value to its previous users; former pupils of Ockbrook School, local community groups and religious congregations.
Over the Wall Camp consulted with Erewash Borough Councillors who were supportive. The local planning authority stated that the application, ‘has worked in a positive and proactive manner by raising matters of concern during the course of the application, which have been addressed by the applicant through the submission of amended plans and supporting information.’
Challenges
Careful consideration was given to every aspect of the project to ensure that the significance and structural integrity of the Listed buildings remained yet all the needs of the children will be met when the new facility is in use. The proposal was supported by a Heritage Impact Assessment which provided a context analysis of the site and its surroundings, with careful regard for the impact upon the Ockbrook Moravian Conservation Area.
Conclusion
Thankfully, with a supportive local authority (Erewash Borough Council), we were able to secure Listed Building consent for Ockbrook School in October 2024 which will allow Over the Wall Camp to continue to grow and proceed with their extension plans. Extending and repurposing these historic buildings will secure a long term conservation for this notable curio in Derbyshire history, and opening up the site will allow a more diverse group of people access to its fascinating heritage.
Key contact
Jon Millhouse is a Chartered Town Planner and member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC).
Planning & Design Practice Ltd are a team of Planning Consultants and Architects, based in Derby and Sheffield, who specialise in heritage projects. We recognise that historic buildings and landscapes are intrinsic to our sense of place and identity, and have considerable experience of developments involving Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and World Heritage sites.
We have an in-house team of consultants, conservation architects and architectural technicians who ensure that proposals are designed sympathetically to conserve and enhance historic buildings and sites.
We have worked on numerous schemes affecting Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. We have the expertise and specialist knowledge to achieve success with your project regardless of its size. For more information on this project for Belper Rugby Club, or to discuss your own property please contact us on 01332 347371 or email enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk.