Bakewell Riverside development

Friends of the Peak District see this as an important site for business use and it will provide important employment for residents of Bakewell and the surrounding area.

However our main concern is the lack of any affordable housing within the scheme. With 94 apartments and 14 houses being proposed for the regeneration of the site, we would like to see the preservation of the historic features thoroughly investigated before any affordable housing is discounted.

This development is also an ideal opportunity to provide affordable housing in a sustainable location that is close to local shops, services and public transport.

We also have some concerns in regard to the design approach although the application is only seeking permission in principle and not addressing detailed design issues . We consider this site too important in terms of its location and industrial heritage to leave the design issue unresolved.

The design of the plans does not take account of the historical nature of site, which in part is a conservation area and includes listed structures and a scheduled ancient monument. The residential proposals in this sensitive area look alien and would not bring these important structures and features together. Design concerns were a significant reason for refusal previously and they still appear unresolved.

The opportunity for renewable energy is important but at present the developers are not interested. There is a requirement that this application complies with the Authorities renewable energy planning guidance. This application could go even further though as the site has excellent potential for hydropower generation. The millrace could, with close co-operation with English Heritage, be used again and provide a power source as it once did and would be an outstanding combination of old and new technologies. This source of energy should be one of a number of green technologies, which together should provide 10% of the site’s power supply.

This site could provide an excellent opportunity for a showcase development, with quality employment opportunities for residents, a sensitive to the historic nature of the site, meeting the housing needs of the area and contains renewable energy technology.

The application is currently going through the planning stages at the moment and is likely to return to planning committee for a decision during 2008.

Picture top left: Bakewell Riverside development site