Historic England Archives - Planning Design Ltd

High-Rise: The changing face of Derby – the sky’s the limit?

20th September 2023 by Gary Stringer

Proposals for high-rise development in Derby city centre are once again attracting attention and controversy, write Richard Pigott and Megan Askham of Planning & Design Practice. The source of the latest controversy comes in the form of Derbion’s plans for the demolition of the Eagle Market building, public house and Derby Theatre, and the erection of a phased mixed-use development; and a separate application to demolish Bradshaw Way Retail Park and build five buildings for housing, commercial premises and office space. Perhaps the most eye-catching element was an apartment block that would be up to 29 storeys high.

The plans received the Council’s backing after seven out of ten councillors voted in favour of the proposals. But the plans must now be referred to the Government due to an objection made by Historic England (HE) who have been critical of the scheme. If the Government approves, Derbion will be able to press ahead with more detailed plans in due course.

Well, these are the headlines anyway, but we were curious to examine the concerns raised by HE, and examine how they were addressed by the council as well as gauge local opinion on what effect these proposals might have. The application is in outline only (detailed designs to follow) but some fairly detailed 3D visuals have been produced, providing an indication of what the development could entail.

Historic England, as a statutory consultee, provided a detailed response, raising concerns about the impact on the setting of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site (DVMWHS), a number of listed buildings and conservation areas. For those who may not be familiar with the term, setting is defined as “the surroundings in which a heritage asset is experienced”, hence it can extend well beyond the asset’s physical structure and immediate surroundings. As part of any planning proposal, it is always necessary to determine what impact a proposal might have on the setting of heritage assets.

HE’s objections can be summarized as:

Adverse impact on DVMWHS by virtue of harmful impact on the skyline, townscape and scale of the surroundings from the vicinity of the Silk Mill at the southern end of the WHS
Adverse impact on the Grade I Cathedral Church of All Saints, by virtue of the outline proposal having the potential to compete with the prominence of the Cathedral tower as a key historic and cultural landmark
Adverse impact on the Friar Gate Conservation Area by virtue of acting as a highly visible and jarring new addition to powerful vistas from the Conservation Areas towards the city centre
Adverse impact on the City Centre Conservation Area as the outline proposals will have a high impact on powerful vistas
Ignoring the Tall Buildings Study, which recommends a building of no more than 12 storeys on the site, with the proposal for a tower of well over twice this height, thus eroding the Derby skyline and changing the character of the cityscape.

In response to these concerns, the planning officer’s report stated that:

Given the scale and height of the proposed development and its impact on the city’s skyline, there is a potential for the development to have an impact on a number of designated and non-designated heritage assets that reside within the site’s wider context
With respect to the DVMWHS, consideration must also be given to the other heritage assets in the vicinity of the site. From longer-range views, one can appreciate the land levels of the city and the elevated position of the historic core, therefore, given the scale of the proposal, the taller elements of the development will be visible from above the townscape.
The development would protrude above the skyline along Friar Gate which is a direct result of the height of the tallest blocks rather than the proposed development as a whole. However, consideration should be given to the changing land levels.
The majority of heritage assets are located to the west of the application site and there will be a clear interaction between the development and these assets, including Conservation Areas and listed buildings
The heritage consultees echo each other’s concerns that the development will have a degree of harm, some stating that this would be a considerable degree of harm to the heritage assets. The development would also dramatically alter the character of the cityscape, forming a key part of the setting of these heritage assets.

The officer report concluded that there would be some harm to heritage assets but that the public benefits would outweigh this harm.

This application provides further evidence of HE’s position as an influential consultee with the power to delay and potentially prevent development where they identify heritage harm.

In the specific case of Derby, the Tall Buildings Study does identify key views and vistas although these are meant to assist with planning decisions rather than being ‘protected views’ as such.

High-rise and heritage

All cities are patchworks of architectural styles that reflect the changing fortunes and aspirations of a place. At a recent Marketing Derby event there was talk of a “renaissance” for Derby. Redevelopment schemes at Becketwell, the Nightingale Quarter (formerly Derbyshire Royal Infirmary) and the University Business School are well under way. Also in the pipeline are plans for Friar Gate Goods Yard, itself within the Friar Gate Conservation Zone. City centres are changing, and many would argue that Derby needs to move with the times. One issue we see, however, is the apparent disconnect between what heritage professionals or the ‘heritage lobby’ deem to be ‘harmful’ and what the general public feels. Furthermore, heritage professionals will often equate change with harm whereas this is far less likely to be the case amongst the general public, where progress is often seen as a ‘good thing’.

The heritage of our city is reflected and preserved successfully with schemes such as the restoration of the Victorian Market Hall and the success of the Museum of Making, showcasing our industrial heritage whilst also looking ahead. Sensitive repurposing of heritage assets such as the Old Post Office have resulted in a modern facilities like CUBO Work that address modern business and lifestyle needs.

Tall buildings are synonymous with cities and, if Derby wants to be taken seriously as a 21st century city then our skyline needs to reflect that. Over the past century Derby has in fact lost a number of tall buildings that accompanied the loss of its manufacturing industries, as its city centre changed in the early 20th century. Cities also need to densify in order to meet the need for more housing and to breathe new life into our cities. Whilst it remains to be seen whether 29 storeys is an appropriate scale of development, this is matter to be considered at the reserved matters stage when the detailed design and siting of the building can be properly assessed. We do, however, welcome opportunities for development that enhance and complement our heritage, creating a modern, vibrant city, that attracts new residents, visitors and businesses alike.

Megan Askham is a Planner and Richard Pigott is a Director at Planning & Design Practice Ltd.

All Images: Derbion/Leonard Design Architects

Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust to save the country’s oldest railway station

28th November 202227th September 2022 by Gary Stringer

In September 2022, the team at Planning & Design Practice were lucky to be invited to tour Wingfield Station, the flagship restoration project for the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust. Here, Lucy Godfrey, Project Co-ordinator for Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust discusses the rich history of the station and the Trust’s labour of love to preserve and restore the station.

Wingfield Station, in South Wingfield near Alfreton, was built in 1839-40 to the designs of Francis Thompson. It forms part of a series of railway structures built for the North Midland Railway, which was designed by two of the most important and influential engineers of the railway era, George and Robert Stephenson.

The line is considered to be one of the best preserved examples of the pioneering phase of railway development in England, and Wingfield Station thus forms an early, rural railway ensemble of outstanding interest.

It’s the sole survivor of Thompson’s notable sequence of picturesque stations between Derby and Leeds. It is a subtly proportioned building with a delicacy of detailing that was greatly admired by contemporary commentators, who appreciated its refined architectural qualities.

Also sitting within the grounds of the Station is the Grade II listed contemporary station master’s house and the slightly later Parcel Shed building.

Wingfield Station had been in private hands and at risk for many years. In 2015, thanks to the considerable efforts of the South Wingfield Local History Group, it was afforded Grade II* listed status in recognition of its national significance. Only 8% of all listed buildings are designated Grade II* or Grade I.

Despite the dilapidated state of the Station, because it closed in the 1960s, it had not suffered the extensive modernisation that many other old stations have. As such, it is a remarkably rare, unaltered example of an early station building.

Since 2015 Historic England had assisted Amber Valley Borough Council in its discussions with the owner. When it became clear the Borough Council had to use its legal powers to get the building repaired, Historic England stepped in to provide technical advice and grant funding.

Historic England also encouraged the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust (DHBT) to work up a conversion project and secure finance in order to take on the building. A Compulsory Purchase Order was approved by the Secretary of State and Wingfield Station passed to the DHBT in December 2019.

DHBT secured initial development funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in order to undertake the necessary design development and surveys that were necessary for converting the site to office use.

In 2021 the DHBT got a further boost when Historic England awarded funding via their ‘Repair Grants for Heritage at Risk’ scheme. This enabled the DHBT to appoint a conservation contractor to undertake urgent repairs and ensure any further loss and damage to this significant building was mitigated.

This phase of work required considerable liaison with Network Rail, due to the close proximity of the live railway line to the works. Derbyshire contractors, ASBC Heritage and Conservation Specialists, began work in October 2021, with one of their first tasks being the erection of scaffolding on the trackside elevation of the building. This work had to be completed within a specified period of time during a Saturday night/Sunday morning when Network Rail were able to grant them ‘possession’ of the track.

In June 2022 ASBC completed the urgent repairs, which primarily focused on repairs to the trackside elevations, the roof and chimneys of the Station and the roof of the Parcel Shed. Just prior to Practical Completion, DHBT received the welcome news that they had been successful in securing a £667,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, meaning that the restoration project can be completed and a sustainable long-term use of the building as office space can be secured.

This phase of the project will provide meaningful heritage training and skills development opportunities as well as encouraging people to learn about, share and celebrate their heritage.

Alongside an 8 week public opening period, a range of planned activities will be delivered at Wingfield including a volunteer programme, public events and wildlife conservation initiatives. On-site interpretation will include recreating the 72 miles of the original North Midland Railway from Derby to Leeds on the existing granite sett roadway, with station markers at appropriate intervals. Following occupation, the offices will be open to the public for at least 6 days each year and the grounds will be accessible at all times.

As the final capital works are not set to commence until 2023, the DHBT team are planning a number of free public tours of the Station – the next ones are at 11am and 2pm on the 12th October. For further information about Wingfield Station and to book a place on a tour, please head to the DHBT’s website or follow them on social media @dhbtrust

The DHBT have also launched a ‘Friends of Wingfield Station’ scheme to help them raise the £250,000 required to ‘match fund’ the Heritage Fund award. You can support this project from as little as £1.50 a month and play an important part in securing the future of this significant building, described by the industrial architect, Christian Barman, as ‘one of the most perfect of all station houses’.

Wingfield Station from September 2021 – prior to works commencing.

The benefits of heritage conservation

28th November 20228th February 2022 by Gary Stringer

In an article originally written for the winter edition of ACES Terrier Magazine, our Director and Heritage Specialist Jon Millhouse discusses the benefits of Heritage Conservation and outlines compelling arguments why heritage buildings should be cherished.

There are 400,000 listed buildings, 10,000 conservation areas, 1600 registered parks and gardens and 18 World Heritage sites in England.

Our planning policies are designed to protect our built and cultural heritage. But why? Does this stand in the way of social progress and economic growth?

Does keeping drafty old buildings in use fly in the face of our aspiration to tackle climate change?

The conservation movement started in the late 19 century and gathered pace through the 20th century, a reaction perhaps to the widespread loss of historic buildings to wartime bombs and post war ‘improvements’.

Certainly, as a society, we are enthralled by our heritage. A whopping 75.8 million visits were made to 725 historic visitor attractions in 2018 / 19 (Historic England 2019). Heritage provides a sense of familiarity, stability and permanence in our ever changing world. Historic places tend to be unique and distinctive, and consistently attract people to live, work and play. But they are capable of delivering more than just a warm, fuzzy feeling. There are tangible economic, social and environmental benefits to be gained from the conservation and restoration of our historic environment.

Historic England tell us that the heritage sector is worth £36.6 billion annually to the UK economy, supporting 563,509 jobs, and contributing more than the aerospace, arts or defence sectors (Heritage Counts 2020).

I have seen first hand the contribution which can be made when an under used and unloved historic building is imaginatively reused, for example helping to obtain listed building consent to convert the disused former Derby central post office to a buzzing city centre office hub. I am currently part of a team aiming to fulfil the economic potential of Elvaston Castle, Derbyshire, through a restoration and redevelopment scheme which will sustain the Country Park estate’s long-term future, bringing new uses, events and activities, inward investment and jobs.

Our economy is diversifying. Tourism and visitor spending is increasingly important. Historic places are being used creatively to fulfil this demand. At Planning & Design Practice we have helped clients deliver a wide variety of creative reuse schemes from tree house retreats at Callow Hall, Ashbourne, to a gin distillery and car museum at Alderwasley Mills, Ambergate, to a sheep’s milk creamery at Crich.

But value to society is not of course measured only in financial terms. Heritage has the potential to deliver many social benefits too. According to Historic England, arts and heritage social prescribing has demonstrated a high return on public investment through health benefits. People who visit heritage sites are 2.76% more likely to report good health than those who do not and are consequently less likely to require the use of healthcare services.

Elvaston has huge potential to improve the physical and mental health, and cultural well- being of the thousands of potential visitors who live close by. The redevelopment scheme aims to open up hitherto inaccessible parts of the castle and reach out to hard to reach groups in deprived wards in nearby Derby through events and improved community engagement.

And what about environmental impacts? Many heritage sites have huge potential for rewilding, tree planting and biodiversity enhancement, something which will become increasingly important as the new environment act takes effect in the coming years. At Elvaston we are utilising the country park estate to introduce new hedgerow planting, wetlands, wildflower meadows and woodlands.

Improving the thermal performance of poorly insulated buildings is another huge challenge we face as a society. With Britain having the oldest domestic building stock in Europe it might be reasonably assumed that we are ill prepared to meet the challenge of reducing our energy needs in order to tackle climate change. But before we embark on a programme of mass replacement of historic buildings with more energy efficient ones, we must consider the problem more holistically. Think of the embedded energy in an older building and the energy needed to construct a replacement. Older buildings have often proven themselves to be adaptable and durable through time. A replacement building if short lived and needing to be replaced again in a few years time, will not save carbon in the long run. We are increasingly learning how to improve the thermal performance of older buildings sensitively; that must surely be the priority. I often encourage clients to reuse and improve older buildings where possible, even if their first instinct is to demolish and replace. When the decision is taken to restore and re-use an older building, it is seldom regretted. One such example is Oakland’s, a Victorian villa in the Strutt’s Park conservation area, Derby.

The national planning policy framework tells us that the purpose of the planning system is to achieve sustainable development, and that sustainable development can be defined as having 3 strands, economic, social and environmental. Heritage conservation and restoration can achieve all of these, and so is a worthwhile endeavour in my book.

Jon Millhouse, Director, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

Jon is both a Chartered Town Planner and a Full Member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, with a specialist interest in Historic Building Conservation.

Heritage is not all about the past

28th November 202218th January 2022 by Gary Stringer

Heritage is not all about the past, we live with examples of buildings that can teach us lessons about new ways of living today. Sometimes it pays to look back at innovations designed by architects to resolve issues of their day that are also contemporary concerns, states the latest addition to our Heritage team, Ruth Gray.

For example, ventilation is currently very much on the agenda. With the Covid 19 pandemic wreaking havoc throughout the country we are again wanting methods of ventilation to ensure our patients and nurses in hospitals and schools’ children and teachers are healthy and can maintain a high standard of education. The below case studies of Planning & Design Practice projects with community buildings are a fascinating example of what can be learned from our heritage buildings.

Planning & Design Practice were commissioned by Green Square Accord on behalf of Worcestershire County Council to prepare an assessment into the heritage significance of Holyoakes Field First School and Nursery, which is situated on Bridge Street, Redditch. Whilst there is historic interest in the school being an example of the work of talented Architect Lieut.-Colonel Alfred Vernon Rowe (1880-1940) it is not his most notable or high-profile work. But our research found that the school is possibly unique for A. V. Rowe, who built many larger, multi-storied schools but these did not include Holyoakes experimental feature, the ‘marching corridors’.

The Education Act of 1907 introduced periodic medical inspections in schools to address the poor health of children across the country. This resulted in experiments in school architecture with a greater focus on light, ventilation, and provision of space indoors and outdoors for exercise. The use of single storey school buildings allowed a larger plan form, with open air verandas stretching the length of the building allowing for ‘marching corridors’, often leading to a large hall where indoor recreation could be held. Holyoakes is one example of such a plan form and having been designed in 1911 is quite early, whilst these principles had been established in the early 1900s it took some time to gain traction, being adopted nationwide after WW1. Read more about this aspect of school design here. ¹

Planning & Design Practice recent research of Outwoods House as part of their assessment into the heritage significance for a project with University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) NHS Foundation Trust, found that the original part of Outwoods House was constructed in 1895 from brick and sandstone dressings in a gothic revival style. The original building was purpose built as part of an isolation hospital, which has historic significance and modern-day resonance. The Isolation Hospitals Act (1893) enabled County Councils either to provide isolation hospitals or compel local authorities within the county to do so. From the early 1890s to 1914 some 300 local authority isolation hospitals were built. Hospitals were large, dominated by parallel rows of detached ward blocks linked by a covered way, in an extreme form of the pavilion plan that even provided distinctive ventilated basements to allow the free movement of air beneath the wards.

We discovered that overall, whilst buildings of this age/type are not uncommon, and the building has been subject to some alteration/ extension, the original core is a reasonably good example of its type (architecturally speaking) and there is historic interest deriving from its links to the hospital and the story of healthcare in the area. Read more about Isolation hospitals in Historic England’s Health and Welfare Buildings document here. ²

Neither of these case studies are listed buildings but Holyoakes school is potentially eligible for categorisation as a “non-designated heritage asset” by the local authority and Outwoods House is identified by the council’s conservation officer as a non-designated heritage asset. Meaning their importance is recognised for the role they can play in providing future generations solutions. Essentially heritage buildings can help us to understand the society of former eras through their architecture, architects, and their ideas. By understanding our heritage, we can prepare for the future. These two buildings that we have discussed are commonplace but were both designed with ventilation in mind they are examples also of why heritage assessments are an important part of the planning process as the collaboration between conservation officers, planners and developers means that we can retain and reuse buildings and, in the process, discover and retain key pieces of our heritage.

At Planning & Design Practice, we recognise the importance of the built heritage in our towns, villages and rural areas. Our Heritage team includes Director Jon Millhouse, who is a Full Member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, Architectural team leader Lindsay Cruddas, a registered Specialist Conservation Architect and Heritage Assistant Ruth Gray who recently completed a Masters in Public History and Heritage at the University of Derby. For more information on the heritage services we offer, or for a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your project or property, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out how we can help.

1: Elain Harwood’s book ‘England’s Schools: History, architecture and adaptation’ (English Heritage 2010)

2: Historic England’s book ‘Health and Welfare Buildings‘

Everton’s £500 million new stadium given council approval

29th November 202217th March 2021 by Gary Stringer

Everton Football Club’s 25 year search for a new stadium has reached a key milestone, writes keen Everton fan and Planning & Design Practice Ltd Director Richard Pigott. Planning applications for a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock and a community-led legacy project at Goodison Park were unanimously approved by Liverpool City Council at a meeting last month.

The decision to grant approval for a new 52,888-capacity waterfront stadium and the outline application for a re-imagined Goodison Park (the club’s home since 18925) brings both projects a significant step closer. Everton worked closely with the Liverpool Planning Authority, Historic England and other stakeholders for the past 12-months as part of the planning application process, and for around 2 years prior to that.

It was not all plain sailing though. Historic England said that while it supports Everton’s need for a “state-of-the-art” stadium and the benefits it could bring, it advised the council to refuse the application. In a statement, it said the plan to infill the dock would “fundamentally change its historic character” and result in “substantial harm” to the significance of the Grade II listed dock. It added it could also damage the waterfront’s World Heritage Site status.

However, the LPA considered that the significant social and economic public benefits of the new stadium outweighed the harm to the heritage assets of the site, also noting that the club had committed to spending £55m in preserving and celebrating the heritage assets as well as creating a heritage centre around the currently derelict Hydraulic Tower. The club had also amended the proposals, including removing the multi-storey car park from the west quay, thus creating a stepped plaza forming a key part of the site’s public realm which can be used on non-matchdays, and by reducing the overall height of the stadium in line with Liverpool City Council’s World Heritage Site Supplementary Planning Document.

The Secretary of State will now decide whether to overturn or uphold the committee’s decision, and the UNESCO World Heritage status will be reviewed later this year. This is standard practice for a development of this size and scale and the Government will have an initial 21 days to review the application before reaching a decision.

Watch this space.

For more information and images please visit https://www.peoples-project.co.uk/

Main Image: The People’s Project, Pattern Design

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.”

High-Rise: The changing face of Derby – the sky’s the limit?

High-rise and heritage

Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust to save the country’s oldest railway station

The benefits of heritage conservation

Heritage is not all about the past

Everton’s £500 million new stadium given council approval

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

Derwent Valley Mills Management Plan Consultation

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