Lea Mills · Matlock, Derbyshire
Heritage Appeal Statement within a World Heritage Site.
Heritage Unlimited were contacted about a planning application at Lea Mills in Matlock involving the erection of two large water tanks which had raised concern in the community due to their size.
In July 2022, Heritage Unlimited were contacted about a planning application at Lea Mills in Matlock involving the erection of two large water tanks which had raised concern in the community due to their size and wished to appeal against the proposal.
Lea Mills is an historic mill from the late 18th to 21st century, one of the only examples of a working mill of its period still in operation. The site is located within the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site (DVWHS/WHS), designated in 2001, covering the industrial landscape of the area defined by the many historic textile mills which occupy the valleys. It is overlooked by nine grade II listed buildings and is located on the border of two conservation areas: Castle Top, Lea Bridge, and High Peak Junction Conservation Area (CLHCA), and the Dethick, Lea, and Holloway Conservation Area (DLHCA). HUL determined that Lea Mills is considered to be a non-designated heritage asset due to its age, rarity, historic association with the area, social and communal value and all other criteria laid out in Historic England guidelines.
- Property
- Lea Mills
- Listing
- World Heritage Site, Non-designated heritage asset
- Location
- Matlock, Derbyshire
- Authority
- Derbyshire Dales District Council
- Year
- 2022
- Outcome
- Application withdrawn
Assessment of impact within the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site.
Any development at a site concerning a heritage asset requires the local planning authority (LPA) and conservation officers to fully understand the historic interests and significance of the site and the setting in which it stands. Certain tests must be adhered to by law in order to assess the impact of any change as covered by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, the Town and Country Planning Act (1990) and National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) alongside Local Planning policy and Historic England Guidelines.
An assessment of the site by a professional heritage consultant should help to advise the LPA on the nature, extent and level of significance of the heritage assets and in turn what nature, level and degree of harm may be inflicted by a proposal, and if so, what mitigating measures have been applied to reduce or minimise any harmful impact.
HUL undertook a thorough assessment of the site, heritage assets and proposal. The proposed works were considered to impart a high degree of impact and harm to the historic assets without mitigating circumstances and alternative solutions could be found. HUL’s appeal statement concisely provided justification for the application to be carefully considered and as a result the application was withdrawn.
Services on this project
Heritage consultancy services used at Lea Mills.
Heritage Appeal Statements
A Heritage Appeal Statement was prepared challenging a planning application for water tanks at an historic mill within the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site.
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