Matlock 2025 – Future housing options

After having its Local Plan rejected by a Government inspector earlier this year, Derbsyhire Dales District Council is now faced with the prospect of finding sites for 2,000 more homes.

As part of the Mercury’s Matlock 2025 campaign, we are looking at the different sites suggested in Matlock, to see what is happening with them now.

In 2000 Cawdor Quarry was bought by developers Groveholt Ltd. In 2012 the company revealed plans to build 432 homes on a quarry site, however the cost of decontaminating the former industrial site was so high, it claimed it could need to sell the 12 luxury homes and neighbouring Limestone Croft.

There is now only one home available on the Limestone Croft site, and Groveholt vows that it plans to honour its promise to develop Cawdor Quarry once this is built.

A spokesman for the company said: “We’re still intending to go into the next phase.

“As and when that’s going to happen it depends on when we go to planning permission. The expectation is that it will be next year.” In the council’s draft local plan, it was suggested that 65 homes be built at Bentley Bridge. In November last year planning permission was granted for these homes, however a second planning application has now been submitted to the authority for 62 more homes adjacent to the existing site. The application can be viewed by searching for reference ‘14/00436/FUL’ on the planning section of www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk

The Local Plan outlined a possible 100 homes at Halldale Quarry, a site which was popular with many residents for housing. An application has now been submitted for 220 homes on the site by 4M Property Partners. View the application by searching for reference ‘14/00541/OUT’.

In May this year an application by Richborough Estates to build 110 new homes on land off Asker Lane was refused by the council. The company is now in the process of appealing that decision. Six new homes were suggested for land off Smedley Street, Matlock.

Other suggestions made by Mercury readers for housing in Matlock include the former bus station site, which is currently being reviewed as part of the plans for the redevelopment of Bakewell Road, and Firs Parade, which many have argued for years is in need of redevelopment have argued

However, on Facebook, many readers have argued they do not want to see any more houses built in Matlock.

Teresa Fullalove commented: “Not in Matlock or Darley Dale. They have built so many in these areas over the last few years. Build a few in each village and convert mills, 
quarries, etc.”

Sarah Hutchinson Bell said: “We need more affordable housing in Matlock. But at the same time I understand the extra pressure that this will put on our already congested road and services.”

Harriet Scarlett Halse added: “Asker Lane’s junction is bad enough at peak times. Yes let’s add even more traffic so close to where children are going to and from school. 
I think not.”