Members of the public are being invited to comment on initial proposals to revitalise Belper Market Place.
On Saturday 13 January 2007, members of the public are invited to learn more about the draft Market Place Masterplan at Belper’s Salvation Army Hall. Consultants from Allen Todd Architecture, the company that produced the plan, will be presenting their proposals between 10am and 2pm.
The plan, which was commissioned by Belper and Milford Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), sets out how to:
- improve the appeal and architectural quality of the Market Place;
- maximise activity within the Market Place;
- promote the Market Place as a visitor attraction; and
- position the Market Place at the heart of economic development policy for the town.
The THI is a partnership scheme with funding from several organisations. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has committed up to £1 million to the scheme, as part of its UK-wide Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), which aims to conserve and regenerate historic urban areas. The Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership has contributed £466,646 to the scheme. Derbyshire County Council, Amber Valley Borough Council and Belper Town Council also contribute funds to the scheme.
The Initiative, which is co-ordinated by Amber Valley Borough Council, aims to regenerate key commercial sites within Belper’s Market Place and King Street as well as the former mill workers’ housing at Hopping Hill in Milford and the Clusters in Belper.
The Initiative offers grants to the owners of buildings to help them carry out building repairs, reinstate architectural detail and bring vacant floor space back into use. For more information about the Initiative contact Francesca Machin on 01773 841576.
