Darley Abbey Regeneration Strategy

The Regeneration Strategy for the Darley Abbey is part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage SiteOpens in new tab. It aims to provide a way of realising the full tourism and economic potential of the area to secure its long-term future.

• Darley Abbey Regeneration Strategy Report - Part 1
• Darley Abbey Regeneration Strategy Report - Part 2

We carried out a number of studies to inform the Strategy, which makes recommendations for new uses and continued use at Darley Abbey MillsOpens in new tab and Darley Abbey Parks Stable block. These include proposals for environmental improvements, alleviation of flood risk, traffic and parking issues.

What areas will be affected by the regeneration strategy?

There are two main parts in Derby:

• the Silk Mill
• Darley Abbey Mills site in Darley Abbey village, including the Stable Block and parkland of the former Darley Hall.

The Mills and Stables are run down and underused. Over the past 20 to 30 years, there has been no common vision or aims for the complex. This has led to a lack of direction and no significant investment from the public or private sector.

The Darley Abbey Mills properties (including over 150,000 square foot of floor space) are all privately owned and include Grade I and II listed buildings. We owns the Stables Block, which is Grade II listed and in a very poor state of repair; this will be tackled through the implementation of this strategy.

Why do we want to regenerate the Darley Abbey area?

All elements of the strategy have previously been identified in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site's Economic Development Plan, Management Plan and the Council's 10-year Action Plan. The project is needed to secure the long-term future of these listed buildings (many are Grade I and II) and to make the most of the potential of the World Heritage Site in terms of tourism and economic development.

Why is the site so important?

The World Heritage Site is internationally important for two reasons:

• The valley witnessed the start of the factory system in the country, new types of building were built to house the new technology for spinning cotton developed by Richard Arkwright. For the first time there was large-scale industrial production in what was a rural landscape
• The need for housing and other facilities for workers and managers resulted in the creation of a unique industrial landscape that has retained its qualities over two centuries.

As such the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site is recognised by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural OrganisationOpens in new tab (UNESCO) as having a cultural heritage amongst the most priceless and irreplaceable possessions in this county, the country and indeed the whole world.