In 2000, the Borough Council commissioned a Healthcheck for Belper, which identified the strengths and weaknesses of the town and surrounding countryside and included an action plan to build upon these strengths and address the weaknesses. Although the Healthcheck was not formally adopted as Council policy, the majority of the actions in the action plan have been successfully implemented.
In 2003, the Borough Council commissioned Latham Architects to produce a Masterplan for the area of Belper between the A6 and the River Derwent. The Masterplan included a number of options showing how parts of this area of land could be developed. The Masterplan was an wholly independent study which was never formally considered by the Council and has not been adopted as Council policy.
The Adopted Amber Valley Borough Local Plan 2006 identifies a specific site within this area of Belper with potential for comprehensive redevelopment. Policy ER1c of the adopted Local Plan states:
Planning permission will be granted for mixed use development on land north and south of Derwent Street, Belper, as shown on the Proposals Map, including tourism, Shops (A1), Restaurants and Cafes (A3), Drinking Establishments (A4), Hot Food Take Aways (A5) and Assembly and Leisure (D2), following the approval of a comprehensive development brief for the site and providing that the proposals:-
a) incorporate improvements to the highway network to offset the impact of additional vehicle movements on Bridge Street (A6), including the provision of a new road link to the west of Bridge Street, subject to detailed investigation
b) incorporate improved pedestrian links between existing retail units within and on the edge of the town centre
c) are of a form, scale and design which reflects the location of the site within Belper and Milford Conservation Area and the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site
d) satisfy any criteria in relation to specific policies for each land use
Housing may also be acceptable as an element of any redevelopment proposals, if it can be demonstrated that this would be essential to enable a comprehensive scheme to be implemented
The Borough Council is committed to the preparation of a comprehensive development brief for the area between the A6 and the River Derwent and it is anticipated that a draft brief will be published for public consultation and involvement early in 2008. The purpose of this brief is to expand on the policies of the adopted Local Plan and provide further detail as to what forms of development will be acceptable for this area of Belper. The Borough Council will not determine any planning applications for this site until this brief has been adopted following extensive public consultation.
