Mill plan approved despite residents' opposition

A HISTORIC 300-year-old Derbyshire mill will be converted into apartments with new houses built in its grounds.

- By EDDIE BISKNELL

At a Derbyshire Dales District Council meeting on Tuesday, councillors unanimously approved plans from private landowner Mark Lee for the renovation of Lumsdale Mill, near Matlock, into 11 apartments alongside 12 new-build houses.

This was despite concerns from more than 20 residents living adjacent to the site that the redevelopment would lead to increased flooding and sewer overflows, privacy issues, highways safety implications, tree loss and wildlife disruption.

Councillors sealed a condition that the regeneration of the former mill complex, which is said to be in a dilapidated condition and has been hit by thieves, is completed before the construction of the houses.

Seven of the new-build homes would be three storeys tall with a garage as a ground floor and first floor bridge across "sunken" rear gardens to further garden space on the steep sloping site.

The developers will not be providing any affordable housing or open space on the brownfield site, but will be giving money for this to be provided elsewhere in the district £314,000 for affordable homes, £3,900 for children's play areas, £3,400 for open space improvements and £1,400 for allotments.