22.1
The Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Partnership is not anti-development. The Partnership seeks to encourage developers to aspire to a higher quality of development appropriate to its location. The DVMWHS Partnership is supportive of the right quality development in the correct location in the DVMWHS and its Buffer Zone.
22.2
As highlighted by the National Planning Policy Framework, not all elements of a World Heritage Site (WHS) will necessarily contribute to its significance. Where development within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and its Buffer Zone will enhance and better reveal its significance and not impact negatively on its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), it will be treated favourably.
22.3
World Heritage Sites are ‘Inscribed’ because of their OUV. Each WHS has a Statement of OUV (SOUV). The DVMWHS SOUV was endorsed by UNESCO in 2010 and can be found in the Management Plan (see 1.2 in Part One). Appending the SOUV is a list of Attributes and Elements. Attributes are the keystones that build to constitute OUV and elements are the ‘things’ that manifest those attributes. Proposals that negatively impact on an Attribute of the DVMWHS or its Buffer Zone should be refused.
22.4
For development that does not impact negatively on the OUV of the DVMWHS, it is important that its design quality is high, as defined in the paragraphs below. While there may be instances where facsimile, or even pastiche, may be appropriate, these are likely to be very, very unusual for new developments.
22.5
New development should not dilute the ‘authenticity’ of the DVMWHS. This is a requirement of UNESCO. New development that is ‘dressed-up’ as, or unnecessarily copies, historic development weakens the authenticity of the WHS and its Buffer Zone. Instead, new development should complement its context and be ‘of its time’.
22.6
A good way of assisting development to harmonise with its context is to use locally distinct materials and to combine these with modern materials that have good sustainability credentials. Lookalike materials, such as concrete moulded to give an impression of stone or timber ‘effect’ windows and doors, are not appropriate.
22.7
Development in the DVMWHS and its Buffer Zone should take its cues from the mass and layouts of buildings in its surroundings and respond in an appropriate contemporary manner. Sometimes this may be to adapt the surrounding precedent so it fulfils modern user requirements; other times the approach may be to develop something that is in contrast. What is needed is a clear articulation of the design approach in the Design and Access Statement, setting out clearly why it is an appropriate design response. Ultimately, new development needs to be appropriate to its setting and not dilute the historic authenticity of the World Heritage Site.
22.8
As per Aim 1 of the Management Plan under Objective 1.8 “it is important that new development does not negatively impact on the flood resilience of the World Heritage Site”. Rain water runoff from a development site should be attenuated on site. Often the features facilitating attenuation can be used to help deliver attractive characterful development.
22.9
Developments that also incorporate technologies that assist in reducing carbon consumption, such as neighbourhood heating systems, solar power and/or hydroelectricity, will be viewed favourably so long as they do not negatively impact on the OUV of the DVMWHS and its Buffer Zone.
22.10
Developers and scheme promoters should ensure that development proposals are in accordance with current best practice design guidance. This includes documents and material such as: The Urban Design Compendium, Building for Life 12, By Design – Better places to live; HM Government’s National Design Guide (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-design-guide) and http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ztu6YFwZA5w.
22.11
A developer or scheme promoter can ask, through the Local Planning Authority, if it is in agreement, for design advice from the DVMWHS Coordination Team who will seek support from Derbyshire County Council’s professional environmental advice service. Any time taken giving design advice by Derbyshire County Council’s professional environmental advice service will be deducted from the 74 hours highlighted in paragraph 3.1.13 of the Statement of Planning Procedure for Development Control. This advice will be copied to the relevant Local Planning Authority officer. If a meeting is required then the relevant Local Planning Authority officer will need to be present.
22.12
Where there is uncertainty as to whether a scheme is of sufficient design quality for the DVMWHS and its Buffer Zone then the Local Planning Authority should ask the developer or scheme promoter to submit the proposals to OPUN, the East Midlands Design Review organisation (www.opun.org.uk) for independent assessment.