Darley Abbey Mills
Darley Abbey Mills Regeneration
The Regeneration Strategy for the Darley Abbey part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site is a Derby City Council led project and aims to provide a way of realising the full tourism and economic potential of the area to secure its long-term future.
We have carried out a number of studies to inform the Strategy, which makes recommendations for new uses and continued use at Darley Abbey Mills site and Darley Abbey Parks Stable block and includes proposals for environmental improvements, alleviation of flood risk, traffic and parking issues.
The Darley Abbey Mills Partnership continues to work towards delivering the aims of the Darley Abbey Regeneration Strategy with the ambition to return the historic mill buildings back into economic use.
The last year has seen considerable changes and improvements at Darley Abbey Mills.
A number of new businesses have moved onto the site and West Mill has been converted into a stunning wedding venue.
The introduction of superfast broadband has meant the mill complex is very attractive to all types of business, wanting to join those already based there. GCI, a large telecommunications firm, relocated from Pride Park to the site during the summer, and the open plan floor space is perfectly suited to larger organisations, but for smaller businesses there are options available to suit. It is now an established hum for a range of businesses from financial consultants, designers, photographers, bicycle retailers, a craftsman knife maker, a gym and specialist garages, not to mention Darley’s restaurant.
The site owners, Pattern’s Properties have converted West Mill into a wedding venue, with the first wedding held in July 2015, and bookings steadily coming in for the already popular venue. There is a civil ceremony room, a separate dining room and a reception area for drinks and dancing – all refurbished sympathetically so the character of the mill is still there. Outside, the courtyard and newly landscaped gardens by the river allow a great opportunity for photographs.
Darley Abbey Stable Block Regeneration
Darley Abbey Stables is a Grade II-listed former stable block and neighbouring Bakehouse in Derby, which has recently undergone much-needed restoration.
The developer, Darley Abbey Stables Sanctuary LLP, has restored the buildings to create a mixed-use development, with a pilates & yoga studio plus boutique offices for small and medium-sized businesses. The scheme comprises eight workspaces with associated parking facilities, all set around a central courtyard on the edge of the beautiful and historic Darley Park.
The attractive units are being marketed through Derby-based commercial property agent Innes England. Regeneration work began in November 2013, and Darley Abbey Stables was completed in summer 2014.
Darley Abbey Stables Sanctuary LLP has gone to great lengths to ensure that the important historical elements of this group of buildings, both outside and in, are refurbished to an extremely high standard, using materials in keeping with the site’s heritage.
The developer is committed to delivering thoughtful conversions of listed buildings, while ensuring that the buildings themselves continue to “live” and remain relevant for modern uses. Read more about Darley Abbey Stables.
Darley Abbey Regeneration Strategy
Why did we want to regenerate the Darley Abbey area?
All elements of the project had 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 for the southern end of the World Heritage Site. The project was 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.
The remit of the project has been to produce a number of documents including:
- Building Condition surveys for the Mill buildings and Stable Block
- Conservation Plans for the Mill buildings, Stable block and Darley Park
- A feasibility study considering the future ownership and viable usage options for the Darley Abbey Mills complex and the various buildings within Darley Park. These options considered residential, commercial and tourism/visitor facilities
- Access and public realm issues to the Mill complex and Stable Block
- Maximising the tourism potential of the Derby hub within the World Heritage Site
All of the supporting documents produced are being used to inform the Regeneration Strategy for Darley Abbey Mills – which will allow Derby City Council in partnership with the Mill owners to carry out the findings of the Regeneration Strategy.
In July 2009 Atkins were the successful consultants in tendering for the work to deliver the Regeneration Strategy.
