National Park centre and cycle hire at Millers Dale Station, Unnamed Road from Glebe Farm to B6049, Millers Dale

What was proposed

The former goods shed would become a National Park Centre with interpretation, visitor information, limited retail and cycle hire.

“The application proposes the change of use of the former goods shed from an interpretation space to a space comprised of interpretation, visitor information and limited small-scale retail (National Park Centre), and cycle hire.”

“The proposed inclusion of additional facilities within the goods shed, including staffed small-scale retail, visitor information and cycle hire would not have a detrimental impact on the special qualities of the National Park. It would enable visitors to experience meaningful interpretation whilst also providing opportunities for the enjoyment of the National Park on a traffic free trail through bicycles/vehicles for hire regardless of mobility.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is a former station in open countryside, containing a car park, café, toilets, station buildings, platforms and the Monsal Trail.

“The former Millers Dale Station site is in a mixed-use comprised of public car park, café, public toilets and interpretation space located in open countryside on the road to Wormhill which rises up from Millers Dale village in the valley bottom beneath the viaduct. The site sits on a level area of land and includes the car park and surviving station buildings and platforms. The Monsal Trail crosses the site along the route of the former railway.”

“The site is located within the designated Millers Dale Conservation Area. The viaducts are located to the east of the station, North Viaduct is Grade II listed and South Viaduct is Grade II* listed. The former station is not listed but does form part of the Historic Buildings, Sites and Monuments Records as a non-designated heritage asset.”

Officer report

Earlier planning decisions

Earlier permissions covered public toilets, car parking, a refreshment vehicle, visitor information and café use, the goods shed and a changing places facility.

“1982: Planning permission granted conditionally for public toilets, ranger base, car park and septic tank.”

“2023: Planning permission granted for Changing places facility (NP/HPK/0823/0972).”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended conditional approval because the proposal complied with relevant policy and would support recreation, interpretation and enjoyment of the National Park.

“Local policy supports facilities which enable recreation, environmental education and interpretation which encourage understanding and enjoyment of the National Park.”

Officer report

The main planning impacts

Officers assessed the proposal’s effects on landscape, ecology, heritage, residential amenity, highway safety and other trail users.

“The proposed development would facilitate the increased use of the Monsal Trail through additional cycles available for hire. While this would not have a landscape impact per se, it would have an impact on the characteristics of the area. Arguably, it would decrease the ability for users of the trail to experience tranquillity and quite enjoyment of that section of the National Park.”

“On this basis, the Highway Authority have resolved to not object to the proposed development. Considering the above, Officers are satisfied that the development can be accommodated on the site without harm to highway safety nor any sever impacts upon the highway network. Therefore, the proposal is acceptable with regard to highway safety.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Two parish councils objected over visitor pressure, cycling, parking, traffic, ecology, local businesses and the suitability of the site.

“The proposals in application NP/HPK/1125/1163 include provision of additional cycling hire at the site, despite the site having existing cycling hire facilities at Blackwell Mill and at Hassop, and without consideration that a large number of visitors also travel to the site with their own cycles too. The application proposes that twenty to thirty electric bikes and sixty to eighty standard bikes will be made available for hire.”

“The proposals appear to be a clear breach of Policy 64(B) in the currently-draft Local Plan. That Policy requires that any additional parking provision should be of a limited nature, taking account of its location and the visual impact of parking. The proposals could not reasonably be viewed as compliant with that requirement, given the quiet, beautiful location of the station.”

Officer report

What residents raised

All 44 representations objected or commented, citing concerns including parking, ecology, trail safety, congestion, waste water, litter and existing cycle-hire businesses.

“All representations objected to the proposal or gave a general comment. The concerns raised were: - Request that the car park is provided before the cycle hire is brought into use; - Unclear how many cycles would be available for hire; - Impact on Special Area of Conservation.”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

The applicant’s Head of Assets and Enterprise spoke under the public participation scheme, and some members had visited the site.

What members discussed

Members discussed parking, amenity, public transport, seasonal opening, building controls, ecology and the cost of maintaining the trail.

“That there would be no external alterations to the building but there would be the loss of 2 parking bays and the impact on the existing car park and on-street parking • There would be a slight intensification of use but there were no concerns on the impact of the amenity • The cycle hire outlet and national park centre are accessible by public transport • The operation of the cycle hire centre would be seasonal and for set times each day • The activities of the national…”

Minutes

The committee vote

A motion to approve the application with conditions was moved, seconded, put to the vote and carried.

“A motion to approve the application with the conditions outlined below, was moved, seconded, put to the vote and carried.”

Minutes

The decision

The application was approved with conditions covering the statutory time limit, approved plans, additional parking before cycle hire and opening hours.

“That the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:”

“The cycle hire shall not be brought into use until the additional car parking provision approved through permission NP/HPK/1125/1164 has been completed and made available for use.”

Minutes