From industrial site to business hub: the Riverside regeneration project

Nestled in the heart of the Peak District, sitting alongside the River Wye, lies the Riverside project – a regeneration project that may seem unexpected at first glance. This innovative industrial park development is a modern hub for commerce, culture and community life, blending contemporary architecture with rich natural heritage. It emphasises sustainability and is surrounded by an inspiring environment that encourages productive working.

Such rural areas are frequently overlooked when it comes to initiatives like this, with major challenges being the lack of reliable transport networks, inadequate infrastructure, limited connectivity and planning permission difficulties. However, development and investment company Litton Properties saw the area’s appeal and potential, and set about transforming the site.

The site, in Bakewell, Derbyshire, operated as a cotton mill installed by English inventor and entrepreneur Sir Richard Arkwright from the late 1700s until the late 1800s, when the mill burnt down. Until the early 1970s, it was a battery manufacturing plant that supplied the Royal Navy, creating employment within the local area. The plant’s closure in 1972 was devastating to the town, with the loss of high paid and skilled jobs.

Fearnehough Machine Knives acquired the site the same year and invested heavily in the buildings and infrastructure. Unfortunately, it was badly affected by the energy crisis at the time and the remains of the business were sold, with the site broken up into units for let.

Development and investment company Litton Properties bought the Riverside regeneration project in 2001. With more than 25 years’ experience in delivering solutions for complex sites, the company executes high-quality sustainable developments that enhance local areas.

Covering just under 30 acres, the site’s features include heritage assets, listed buildings, industrial archaeology, and a scheduled monument designation on its old waterworks; part of it is also a conservation area. While captivating, these features can prove complicated when it comes to redevelopment. The site also had potential contaminated land issues and lies within both the River Wye floodplain and the Peak District National Park, further complicating matters.

Planning is a hot topic in rural development, with a CLA survey highlighting that planning reform would sway 70% of the rural vote in the lead-up to a general election.

Indeed, the Riverside regeneration project has experienced its share of difficulties. The site already had consent for a new bridge to provide better site access and was zoned for redevelopment. However, the company’s planning applications for development met refusal after refusal.

“Planning for this site has taken 15 years, and it is estimated to have cost more than £1m, not to mention the unmeasurable amount of man hours and lost opportunity costs,” says Mark.

In 2016, Litton Properties appealed its second refused application, took it to a hearing and won. Two further applications for employment space were approved, but with unworkable conditions, so Litton Properties also appealed these – and won.

The site is currently in phase eight of its schedule, with many of the completed buildings occupied. It boasts 30 units of varying sizes, is home to 26 businesses and has created more than 200 jobs. The businesses span a range of industries, including a gym, two bakeries, the popular Thornbridge Brewery, Chatsworth’s famous retail storage and supply warehouse, an agricultural merchant, offices, a cafe, and residential buildings, including four holiday lets.

As part of the company’s commitment to sustainability, the site is partly powered by renewable energy, and the company plans to explore the potential of installing a water turbine in the future. There is a dedicated fishing area, adding to its appeal as a vibrant and eco-friendly hub for work and recreation.

The buildings are designed to be flexible, featuring diverse services on every grid, mezzanines and spaces that can easily be adapted for storage. Members of the CLA Derbyshire branch committee visited the site for their AGM in September, at which point 60% of the available space in the current phase had been reserved, highlighting the demand for such versatile facilities.

The site has been transformed into a dynamic innovation hub, with sustainably rebuilt and restored buildings blending modern design with the area’s industrial heritage. Its flexible employment spaces cater to a variety of industries, and the vision is expansive: the current square footing sitting at 250,000 square feet of employment space, and there are plans for a 72-bed hotel with a restaurant and retail areas.

New office spaces across the river are in the works, as are a site café and hub, contributing to its appeal. The potential for on-site residential development could bring even more life to the area.

The integration of modern, sustainable infrastructure with the site’s industrial past not only preserves its historic character but also enhances the surrounding landscape, seamlessly blending function and beauty. The result is a space where industry and nature coexist, enriching the local economy and the area’s aesthetic charm.

Mark adds: “In addition to the regeneration, what we are most proud of are the jobs we have helped create in a rural economy that needs more opportunities to encourage people to live and work locally.”