Derbyshire planners approve scheme to convert historic mill site into 36 new homes

High Peak Borough Council’s Development Committee approved Prisma Colour Ltd’s application at a meeting on November 2 to demolish the outbuildings and renovate an historic former mill into eight apartments alongside plans to build a further 28 terraced houses at Hole House Mill, off Marple Road, in Chisworth, near Glossop.

The 1.7 hectare site includes mill buildings which are not listed and it lies on previously developed and greenfield land in the countryside which also includes a Green Belt area and it partly falls within the Holehouse Chisworth Conservation Area with a pond, weir and woodland.

A council spokesperson stated: “The scheme would enhance the biodiversity and ecology of the development site, including woodland management subject to details being suitably secured constituting environmental benefits of moderate weight.

“Consequently, the Green Belt harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal.”

The council received 17 public representations during a consultation with some objections including concerns about the current narrow access from Marple Road and New Mills Road, limited public transport, a limited number of doctors and dentists in the area, the privacy for neighbours, the potential loss of wildlife and trees, as well as drainage and flooding fears.

Cllr Pauline Bell said: “This new plan encroaches on more green space and has houses built far closer to existing properties, namely Chisworth House and Nettle Cottage, and they are proposing to put car parking on green space which is the conservation area.”

She added: “Residents are also concerned about the entrance and exit to the site and the potential hazards of cars joining an A road on a bend with poor visibility.”

Cllr Bell also said there is no public transport to Glossop Schools and she claims the nearest primary and secondary are already oversubscribed.

Charlesworth Parish Council objected on the grounds of the impact of the scheme on the area’s environment, education and infrastructure, feared flooding, its development on Green Belt land, along with access concerns to the A626 Marple Road.

The council deemed that the level of heritage harm to the area would be minor and that the scheme will retain the traditional mill building and pond with designs that fit with the rural industrial character of the site.

It also pointed out that the remediation of a former heavily contaminated industrial site weighs in the scheme’s favour and it will deliver 36 open market homes at a time when the council is struggling to meet housing targets.