68-apartment mixed-use development at Block B Chatsworth Hall, Wellington Street, Matlock

The site and surroundings

The site contained former council offices, ancillary buildings and a tennis court beside Chatsworth Hall, on the edge of the Matlock Bank Conservation Area.

“The site consists of a parcel of land on the corner of Chesterfield Road and Wellington Street. The parcel contains five buildings, each part of the former Derbyshire County Council (DCC) office campus, including three office blocks and ancillary buildings comprising a boiler room and gym hall. The site also includes a former tennis court. The site engulfs the non- designated heritage asset of Chatsworth Hall which is adjacent to Chesterfield Road.”

“The site is located on the northeastern edge of the Matlock Bank Conservation Area. Chatsworth Hall is a noteworthy building within the Conservation Area Appraisal as a former hydropathic building, along with its formal gardens.”

Officer report

Earlier planning decisions

Earlier decisions included permission for office and gymnasium changes, and 2025 approvals and notifications relating to converting the site and Chatsworth Hall to homes.

“11/00480/CON Conservation Area Consent Application - Demolition of gymnasium/sports hall PERC 20/07/2011”

“25/00125/PD6O1 Notification of Prior Approval - Change of use of site from offices (Class E) to 38 no. dwellings (Class C3) under Part 3, Class MA of General Permitted Development Order (2015) ANPR 02/04/2025”

Officer report

What consultees said

Most consultees raised no objection, while conservation officers identified limited heritage harm and the police requested measures for surveillance, access control and lighting.

“Consultee Name Position Date Comments Active Travel England No comment 20/06/2025 DCC Archaeology No objections 26/06/2025 No archaeological impact. DCC Highways No objection 07/04/2026 Concerns regarding access and traffic have been resolved subject to conditions and obligations securing improvements to access and the local highway network. DCC Policy Comments 02/07/2025 No education contribution required. Library contribution requested. Monitoring fee requested.”

“DDDC Environmental Health - - - DDDC Rural Housing Comments 11/12/2025 Agreed that DMS housing on site will not be sufficiently affordable. As such, the affordable housing is best provided as an offsite contribution. DDDC Trees and Landscape No objection 20/06/2025 Some additional suggested measures. Derbyshire Constabulary Concerns raised 20/06/2025 Lack of natural surveillance for footpaths and southern car park. Footpath link should be either secured or removed.”

Officer report

What local people said

Objections covered privacy, trees, wildlife, design, traffic, drainage, parking, commercial uses, housing mix, affordable housing and construction disruption; one letter supported the scheme.

“- Overlooking / impact on privacy - Loss of trees - Impact on badgers - Out of keeping with the character of the conservation area - Impact on the local highway network - Impact on highway safety - Impact on surface water runoff - Retail units outside of the town centre - Commercial units will cause noise and pollution - Insufficient parking provision - Inappropriate housing mix - Visual intrusion of new buildings - Footpath between Wellfield and Wellington Street should…”

“The scheme underwent a series of revisions in October 2025, updating the site layout to adjust the site levels and positioning of buildings as well as providing an updated parking scheme and badger mitigation strategy.”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

Community and resident representatives spoke against the application, while the applicant and the agent spoke in support.

What members discussed

Members questioned the buildings’ scale, commercial space, drainage, sustainable travel, affordable housing and possible overlooking of homes on Wellington Street.

“Drainage arrangements, how surface and foul water drainage would be dealt with…”

“The overlooking of houses on Wellington Street by the proposed development.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee unanimously approved planning permission subject to the obligations and conditions, with delegated authority for necessary amendments.

“It was moved by Councillor Neil Buttle, seconded by Councillor Lucy Peacock and…”

“That planning permission be approved subject to obligations and conditions as set out in the report with delegated authority to the Director of Place and Economy to approve any amendments to those conditions as deemed necessary.”

Minutes