Decision on crumbling mills 'by the end of the year'

Belper Mills has stood largely empty for decades

A Derbyshire MP has insisted that "real change" is on the horizon to save the crumbling Derwent Valley Mills from losing its heritage status and falling into further disrepair.

Belper Mills, a key part of the Derwent Valley Mills Unesco World Heritage Site, are in "poor condition" having stood largely derelict for decades.

The owners of the Georgian mills, First Investments Real Estate Management, are currently awaiting feedback from Unesco on their plans for the site.

An application to convert the mills into apartments, as well as ground floor commercial uses, was submitted to Amber Valley Borough Council in 2018 but not determined.

Jonathan Davies, the Labour MP for Mid Derbyshire who recently set up a pressure group in Parliament for World Heritage Sites, said the owners had expressed in recent meetings that they were "confident" they will shortly submit plans to be decided on by the borough council in the autumn.

"I hope that will be the moment where we can start to bring this work together to see the redevelopment of the site and to have it brought back into use," he said.

"There's [now] a better likelihood of it being brought into a state where it's going to be refurbished sooner, so I think that's all really positive stuff that will give Unesco some reassurances."

Davies said First Investments had been "clear" the plans should be submitted in time for a decision in November.

"We have a moment now, in this year, to deliver this project," he said.

"If we're in the same position next year then there'll be questions to answer. 2025 is a very important year for the mills."

Jonathan Davies has recently set up a group in Parliament that he hopes will help further progress the redevelopment of the mills

First Investments told the BBC: "We anticipate that it may take a number of months to receive a decision from Unesco on our plans for the site, during which time we will continue to work closely with key partners, including Amber Valley Borough Council, with a view to the planning committee considering the application and the feedback from Unesco before the end of the year."

Last year Unesco outlined "grave concerns" about the Derwent Valley site, with large-scale development cited as an issue.

It wrote in a report: "It appears that the development pressure on the property, coupled with the inability of the management system to safeguard its outstanding universal value, has reached such a level that, if not urgently addressed, may confirm an ascertained or potential threat."

It is understood representatives from the body had robust discussions with council officers in Amber Valley in a meeting last year about the prospect of the site's heritage status being taken away before the report was published.

The subsequent report was seen as a "warning" that the site is not far from suffering the same fate as Liverpool.

The city was stripped of its World Heritage status in 2021 because of developments perceived to have threatened the value of its waterfront.

The historic mills - along a 15-mile stretch of the River Derwent between Cromford and Derby - were granted World Heritage status in 2001

The leader of the Belper Independents group on Amber Valley Borough Council Ben Bellamy said it was "naive" to think there would be progress in 2025.

"What we really need is real money, and investment in our heritage from central government, or we will lose World Heritage status and the council and government will never be forgiven," he said.

There are concerns among some in charge of planning decisions on Amber Valley Borough Council about the amount of money needed to invest to ensure any redevelopment is appropriate to the heritage setting.

Campaigners have also expressed doubt about the owners' plans, fearing they will be too costly.

Derbyshire County Council has said it is not in a position to offer financial assistance but deputy leader Rob Reaney told the BBC: "We will be doing all we can to support it."

A spokesperson for Amber Valley Borough Council said it was "keen to work closely with the owner to ensure its protection."

Unesco, which has in the past week been discussing the mills as part of its annual meeting reviewing World Heritage sites, told the BBC the site faces "multiple threats".

A high number of approved planning applications that could "negatively affect the site" are a particular issue for the body.

"There remain significant concerns regarding the current management and legal framework of Derwent Valley Mills, which is considered insufficient to adequately safeguard the reasons why it was inscribed on the World Heritage List," it said.

However, the body added it was considering "all possible solutions" to maintain its heritage status and removing it was currently "not under consideration".