Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Archives - Page 2 of 2

Everton stadium plans ‘a risk’ to Liverpool UNESCO status?

30th September 202015th January 2020 by Gary Stringer

What do Derby’s Landmark building and the proposed new Everton Football Club stadium in Liverpool have in common? The answer is that both have UNESCO World Heritage Site designations to contend with, writes Richard Pigott, Director at Planning & Design Practice Ltd.

In the case of the Landmark building a number of heritage bodies including Historic England consider that the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site will be adversely affected by the proposed 17 storey residential building adjacent to St Alkmund’s Way, meaning a decision is yet to be reached nearly 2 years after the application was submitted. In Everton’s case, they plan to relocate to a site in the Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City World Heritage Site.

As a lifelong Everton fan I am taking a keen interest in the planning application for Everton’s proposed new £500 million, 52,000 seat stadium submitted just before Christmas. It is proposed to relocate the club’s home from the historic Goodison Park to a site 1.5 miles to the west known as Bramley Moore Dock which is part of the docklands to the north of Liverpool which bears witness to the development of one of the world’s major trading centres in the 18th and 19th centuries.

UNESCO bestowed its prestigious ‘World Heritage Site’ title in 2004 but in recent years the scale of development in Liverpool has resulted in UNESCO placing the city on the danger list of losing their cherished moniker. The committee has cited “extreme concern” at the prospect of continued development of the historic docks despite the fact that many of them are currently empty, derelict and closed to the general public.

Critics of the WHS designation say that it’s a title which sounds impressive, but in reality delivers very little and that if the development of Liverpool Waters means the city has to forfeit its UNESCO status then so be it.

The planning application was only submitted on 23rd December so it is still very early days but Everton’s two stage public consultations saw more than 63,000 respondents take part and is widely recognised for being the largest commercial public consultation in the City of Liverpool’s history. The consultation has revealed overwhelming public support both for the siting and design of the stadium and the proposed redevelopment of Goodison Park for a community-led mixed use legacy project. Liverpool City Council has also pledged its support to the scheme, citing the regeneration benefits it will bring.

Everton state that the proposal would have a transformational impact on North Liverpool, kick-starting the regeneration of the northern docklands, contributing a £1bn boost to the city region’s economy, creating up to 15,000 jobs and attracting 1.4m visitors to the city each year.

However, the heritage issues involved make this a very interesting case and I will be keeping an eye on how the main parties respond to the proposal over the coming months.

Centre Image: The People’s Project, Pattern Design

Derwent Valley Mills Management Plan Consultation

1st November 2019 by Gary Stringer

During 2018/19 significant work has been carried out to agree a vision for the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site (DVMWHS), creating a Management Plan detailing the aims, objectives and actions to help deliver that vision up to the year 2025.

The vision is clear, with the aim to

“Create and promote a local, national and international understanding and identity for the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site as a cohesive and coherent whole, based on its global significance for all of humankind.”

From 11 October to 8 November 2019, the DVMWHS Co-ordination Team has been seeking the public’s opinion on the latest version of this draft Management Plan, for final changes to be made in November. The Plan will then be submitted to Historic England and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for clearance, before being submitted to UNESCO in January 2020.

You can read more and download a low-res version of the draft Management Plan at this LINK

World Heritage Sites, such as (DVMWHS) are places of global significance. Recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) through the World Heritage Convention, which has been ratified by the 193 member states of the United Nations (out of 206 recognised), including HM Government.

The industrial buildings within the Derwent Valley Mills may be considered to be unique in that they were the first of examples of what was to become the model for factories throughout the world in subsequent centuries.

The Derwent Valley was where the modern factory system was developed and established, beginning with the construction of the Silk Mill in Derby in 1721 for the brothers John and Thomas Lombe, which housed machinery for throwing silk, based on an Italian design. The scale, output, and numbers of workers employed were unprecedented. In 1771 Richard Arkwright constructed a water-powered spinning mill at Cromford, followed by a second, larger mill in 1776-77 which truly established the “Arkwright System” and the Industrial Revolution. The workers’ housing associated with this and the other mills are intact and span 24km of the Derwent Valley from the edge of Matlock Bath in the north almost to the centre of Derby in the south, incorporating the four principal industrial settlements of Cromford, Belper, Milford, and Darley Abbey.

Your comments on the draft Management Plan can be emailed to info@derwentvalleymills.org until 5pm on Friday 8 November 2019. Clear, concise comments would be appreciated.

Planning & Design recognise the importance of the built heritage in our towns, villages and rural areas. We have worked on numerous schemes in and around the World Heritage site and involving Listed Buildings, and Conservation Areas. Recently we were awarded with the Highly Commended Certificate for Excellence in Planning for Heritage & Culture at the RTPI East Midlands Awards for Planning Excellence 2019 for our work on the redevelopment of the ‘East Site’ at John Smedley Mills within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. Director Jon Millhouse specialises in heritage planning and design team leader Lindsay Cruddas is a registered Specialist Conservation Architect.

“With one of the longest histories of any town in the country, Derby has a rich history which manifests itself in our built heritage, its conservation areas and the UNESCO World Heritage site, of which we should be rightly proud” said Jon Millhouse, Director at Planning & Design.

“The Management Plan consultation will help to preserve the special character of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site for many years to come. Identifying innovative approaches, and re-evaluating the assets of the area within the local economy, will help ensure a sustainable and viable future for this unique historical site which will bear fruit long into the 21st century and beyond.”

Highly Commended at the RTPI East Midlands Awards 2019

9th October 201930th September 2019 by Gary Stringer

The team at Planning Design were both surprised and delighted to be awarded the Highly Commended Certificate for Excellence in Planning for Heritage & Culture at the recent RTPI East Midlands Awards for Planning Excellence 2019.

The awards were held at the Roundhouse in Derby, at a sold out event on Thursday 26 September, which was attended by over 100 planning professionals from across the East Midlands.

The Highly Commended Certificate was for our work on the redevelopment of the ‘East Site’ at John Smedley Mills, Lea Bridge. Planning Design were instructed as planning consultants, alongside Evans Vettori Architects to deliver a complex set of proposals for redevelopment, conversion and part demolition on the site, which is the last working textile mill in the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site and the “oldest manufacturing factory in the world”.

The ‘East Site’ was no longer needed for garment manufacture and development was needed to secure a beneficial future use for the land and buildings and to support the company’s development and expansion. The scheme included the renovation of three late 18th century Grade II Listed cottages which were in a very poor state of repair and on the “heritage at risk” register.

With initial discussions with John Smedley Ltd beginning in December 2015, the development is now well underway, with the listed cottages having been fully restored by the summer of 2019. The redevelopment involved an innovative planning approach as it incorporated both conversion and new build and multiple heritage designations.

Some creative thinking by all parties resulted in a proposal to restore the derelict and run-down eighteenth century ‘Arkwright’ style cottages as part of the scheme. Achieving this objective was not straightforward in planning terms –the cottages lie within a different Council area to the remainder of the factory site and were in such a poor state of repair it wasn’t possible to enter the buildings to carry out a full survey.

With a number of stakeholders involved, Planning Design collaborated with John Smedley Ltd and Evans Vettori Architects as well as working proactively with Amber Valley Borough Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Dethick Lea and Holloway Parish Council as well as English Heritage and the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Partnership. Working together, this enabled the delivery of complex and innovative planning proposals, which straddled two Authorities and involved both conversion and new build and multiple heritage designations.

As the site is in both a Conservation Area and a World Heritage Site, planning identified and was sympathetic to the fact that all new development must preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the wider area.

Creative thinking and diplomatic negotiation was necessary to secure an affordable housing contribution within the plan for the ‘at risk’ listed cottages (thus facilitating their re-use and restoration) plus securing other 106 contributions. This included funds to establish a John Smedley Archive to protect and promote a historically significant garment collection as well as a significant investment in apprenticeships, creating new ancillary tourism, education and employment opportunities.

Jon Millhouse, Director of Planning Design who accepted the certificate said

“We are genuinely thrilled with this recognition by the RTPI. Working within both a conservation area and a UNESCO World Heritage site brought numerous challenges in addition to those already inherent to the listed buildings at the John Smedleys site.

This is a great example of a successful partnership that has helped to ensure a sustainable and viable future for the oldest manufacturing factory in the world, creating opportunities for this unique historical site which will bear fruit long into the 21st century and beyond.”

Planning Design recognise the importance of the built heritage in our towns, villages and rural areas. We have worked on numerous schemes affecting Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. Director Jon Millhouse specialises in heritage planning and design team leader Lindsay Cruddas is a registered Specialist Conservation Architect.

Heritage Open Days Celebrate 25th Anniversary

12th September 2019 by Gary Stringer

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,000 organisations, 5,000 events and 40,000 volunteers. Every year in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. It’s a great chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all free, including a number of sites that usually charge an admission.

Heritage Open Days 2019 will be from 13-22 September.

Established in 1994, Heritage Open Days is England’s contribution to the European Heritage Days and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, having grown into the country’s largest heritage festival.

In fact with over 5,700 events, 2019 is officially the biggest year yet, with over 3 million visitors expected to take part across the 10 days of the festival. To celebrate the festival’s 25th anniversary, 25 new places are opening their doors, from country houses, museum archives and gardens, to theatres, wildlife reserves, distilleries and even a solar farm.

Heritage Open Days is coordinated and promoted nationally by the National Trust with support from the People’s Postcode Lottery, and is run locally by a large range of organisations (including civic societies, heritage organisations, and local councils, community champions and thousands of enthusiastic volunteers).

Highlights for 2019 include the Vajrapani Kadampa Buddhist Centre in Huddersfield where visitors have an opportunity to join a short meditation session with the resident teacher, the chance to take a tour of one of the few remaining Brutalist offices in Newcastle, Commercial Union House and a behind the scenes tour of the Sainsbury Centre at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, one of the filming locations for the Blockbuster ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ film.

Closer to home there is a chance to visit St Thomas Church in Pear Tree Derby. Designed by the London-based architect Joseph Peacock in the neo Norman style, and opened in 1881, there are stunning mosaics and a gallery of stained glass windows by different designers to be seen.

With its roots dating back to 1852, W. W. Winter’s photography studio is the oldest running photo studio business in the UK, and has been operating continuously on the same site at 45 Midland Road, Derby since 1867.

Last but by no means least there is a the chance to walk on the wrought iron Bennerley Viaduct some 60 feet above the Erewash Valley. As well as enjoying the magnificent views, there is the opportunity to learn about the fascinating history of this “Iron Giant”.

To find out about more open days near you please visit: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/

At Planning & Design we recognise the importance of the built heritage in our towns, villages and rural areas.

We have worked on numerous schemes affecting Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. Director Jon Millhouse specialises in heritage planning and design team leader Lindsay Cruddas is a registered Specialist Conservation Architect.

We use our experience to provide the right level of detail to accompany applications for planning permission and listed building consent.

Derby’s Built Heritage – something to be treasured or is it holding the city back?

9th October 201911th September 2019 by Gary Stringer

PDP_Derby's Heritage Bondholder Breakfast

On Tuesday 10 September Planning & Design invited Marketing Derby’s Bondholders, together with specially invited guests to join them at the iconic Derby QUAD. This was for a lively discussion around balancing the needs of preserving Derby’s built heritage, versus the need for innovation in the regeneration of our built environment.

Marketing Derby’s Bondholder community, of which Planning & Design is a member, is a varied and vibrant collection of businesses, working with local stakeholders and the public sector to showcase the city. At regular events, Bondholders get to network, exchange ideas and learn more about the latest developments and investments into Derby and the wider region.

The format of this latest event was to present both sides of the heritage vs development argument, whilst ultimately demonstrating Planning & Design’s belief that heritage should not be seen as a barrier to development, but rather a catalyst; an opportunity rather than a problem.

The morning was introduced by Jonathan Jenkin, Managing Director of Planning & Design, who set out the aims and ground rules for the debate:

“Our work brings us in to regular contact with the heritage lobby and we have specialised over the years in heritage and heritage related architectural and planning matters.

“Derby is a historic city with its listed buildings, its conservation areas and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is fortunate to have a rich heritage and this is something to be proud of. But heritage restrictions can in practice impose limitations and our debate is whether these designations and constraints and their implementation are holding the city back. “

“Derby is at the heart of the country’s aerospace, rail and automotive sectors and is home to an expanding network of advanced technology businesses and professional services.” began Richard Pigott, Director at Planning & Design and a chartered town planner who has worked in both the public and private sectors for over 15 years, who then continued:

“Its economic performance is amongst the strongest cities outside the South-East and the city is renowned for its innovation. It has a fine industrial heritage embodied in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site where the essential ingredients of factory production were successfully combined for the first time. In short we are a city of innovation. However many parts of the city centre are in desperate need of investment and redevelopment to create a living city centre, as encapsulated in the City Centre Masterplan 2030.”

Citing examples including the disparity between Friar Gate and Agard Street, plus the site of the former DRI (Derbyshire Royal infirmary) Richard concluded:

“Development can help heritage. Innovation in Derby didn’t stop in the 18th century, nor should it stop today. To compete with other cities we must champion good architecture, and allow well designed modern buildings to sit alongside our fine old buildings.”

Fellow Director at Planning & Design Jon Millhouse, a Chartered Town Planner with a specialist interest in Historic Building Conservation and Urban Design began his counter argument by detailing some of the rich history of Derby:

“With one of the longest histories of any town in the country, Derby has a rich history which manifests itself in our built heritage. This is something we can all be proud of.

“As befits our identity as a City of Innovation, we can lay claim to the site of the World’s first factory, Britain’s first public park, and the World’s oldest department store.

“Protecting, reusing and revealing our heritage should be at the forefront of this city’s development aspirations, and can help deliver our future prosperity.”

Following the two viewpoints set out by the Directors of Planning & Design, Tony Butler, Executive Director of Derby Museums was just one of many audience members to contribute to the subsequent debate:

“Heritage buildings and UNESCO world heritage status are significant contributors to making Derby a great place to live, work and invest. These assets should be enhanced.

“However the City Council capacity within its conservation team is so limited that this slows down discussions regarding development. More resource is needed. The best of heritage and good new design can sit well together and enhance each other. Ultimately there needs to me more dialogue, both between people and with design.”

Summarising both the presentations and the following debate, Jonathan Jenkin concluded:

“The government has through the National Planning Policy Framework raised the status of heritage in the planning decision process. While at the same time and for the past 10 years local authorities have been starved of cash and resources. This has affected investment in policy making and the development of a sound information base to make good planning judgements.

“To help the development industry local planning authorities need clear policies, which arise from a well-informed debate based on sound information. Each local planning authority should have well qualified proactive conservation officers who work with developers, their agents and applicants, to help to bring development forward while protecting and conserving the historic environment. At the same time, developers need to respect the legacy of old buildings and seek to recognise the role of a site in the historic and cultural history of the city or a town. This will help to inform development and it will lead to better designs and more successful schemes.”

The presentation from the event is available for download at the following link:

Download the Presentation Slides (pdf 12mb)Download

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