Former Derbyshire miners' welfare club could be demolished for new homes

A proposal to knock down the old Pilsley Miners’ Welfare, on Rupert Street, has been pitched to council planning chiefs.

The building would be replaced by three properties, described as ‘sustainable, detached, self-build homes’.

Planning documents say the former welfare club is ‘a large and complex building structure that has not been in active use for a number of years’.

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Although a number of letters supporting the plans have been submitted to North East Derbyshire District Council, other residents have objected to elements of the proposal.

Resident Katie Turner said the plans would ‘much improve’ that part of Rupert Street, and the house designs would fit in well with surrounding properties.

Becky Mead welcomed the plans and described the owners as people ‘who care about what happens in the village’.

“Since the Hoopers bought the site′ they have haIted the vandaIism and fly-tipping that were a reguIar occurrence and they have kept the site very tidy,” she added.

Mark Watts, chairman of Pilsley Village Sports Association, admitted development of the site was ‘overdue’ but says he has concerns about parking.

The association uses the village sports ground, next to the welfare site, and Mr Watts says hundreds of people visit it every day.

"I am present on the site most days of the week and the primary concern of its users is a lack of car parking space,” he said.

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"This results in people parking cars on Rupert Hill, often blocking the pavement.”

He said without provision for extra parking space in the plans, the site will continue to cause problems for people using the sports ground.

Pilsley parish councillor Peter Stevenson is also concerned about parking in the area.

He described current parking provision at the sports ground as ‘completely inadequate’.

The Hooper family, who are behind the latest plans, say they have designed the houses to be ‘our forever / lifetime homes, to make life as easy as possible for as long as possible’.

They said in planning documents: “The houses are designed to be accessible and adaptable homes for everyone, from young families to older people and people with temporary or permanent physical impairments.”