The main reason for the establishment the World Heritage List was to prevent the loss of sites of international significance. In England the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible under the terms of an international treaty (the UNESCO World Heritage Convention 1972) for the conservation, management, enhancement and interpretation of World Heritage Sites. The Government’s responsibilities under the Convention are delegated, by and large, to the Derwent Valley Mills Partnership and its management plan sets out how it will meet those responsibilities.
In order to provide financial assistance with the conservation and regeneration
of the area there are a number of grant schemes in operation.