Belper Mills Redevelopment: A Historic Project Moving Forward
The redevelopment of historic Belper mills is set to progress, thanks to a potential investment of £4.5 million from the Labour East Midlands mayor, Claire Ward. This significant financial backing has the potential to unlock the project, addressing concerns about financial viability.
The Labour MP for Mid Derbyshire, Jonathan Davies, emphasized the importance of this investment, stating, 'This is a real change because financial viability has been a big concern about this project.'
However, the application process is complex, involving UNESCO World Heritage Site and Historic England standards, ensuring the developments are of high quality and sympathetic to the historic surroundings.
The mayor's office has set a deadline of March for the owners of the mills to submit a business case to receive the funding. The application is made to the government's Brownfield Housing Fund, aiming to support housebuilding targets across the country.
According to council documents, the developer would be required to pay £230,854 to improve local outdoor spaces and £353,057 to Long Row Primary School in Belper, among other contributions, as part of a Section 106 legal agreement.
Tim Knowles, founder and managing director at FI Real Estate Management, expressed pride in investing in Belper Mills, a unique historic site. He stated, 'We are in the process of making an application to the East Midlands County Combined Authority's Brownfield Housing Fund to bring forward 130 homes at the site, and we continue to work closely with Amber Valley Borough Council.'
This redevelopment project promises to breathe new life into a historic site, creating a balance between preserving its heritage and providing modern homes.
