Green light for kayaking hub on derelict site

Plans for the new kayaking hub were approved on Tuesday

Plans to turn a derelict garden centre into a canal-side watersports business have been approved.

Derbyshire Dales district councillors gave Peak UK Kayaking the green light on Tuesday to redevelop the former Cromford garden centre into a new headquarters, community hub and activity base for children to try kayaking.

The site, next to the Cromford Canal, will also provide facilities for Paddlepeak, the company's charity, which provides children with the opportunity to take part in kayaking and also helps clear litter from the River Derwent.

Peak UK Kayaking director Peter Astles said he wants to "inspire local people" along with caring for the Derwent Valley Mills and Cromford Canal.

The former garden centre closed in 2006

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said Cromford garden centre, which closed in 2006, had become a "derelict and dangerous" site.

Mr Astles said the site would now be given a new lease of life and 12 new jobs will also be created.

He said the build would be "high quality" and include local stone and wooden cladding, sustainable materials, low energy lighting and air source heat pumps.

Richard Walsh, a member of Cromford Parish Council, said the authority "welcomed" the "rejuvenation" of the site but had concerns over the handling of foul sewage and the potential for river pollution.

Council officers said the site would generate far less traffic than the previous "abandoned" use and that the authority would work with the Environment Agency and others to ensure foul sewage would be handled carefully and without a negative impact on the river and canal.