Planning Authorities
Derbyshire County Council, 8 district and borough councils, Derby City unitary authority and the Peak District National Park Authority
Three tiers of planning in Derbyshire. Derbyshire County Council handles minerals, waste, highways and is the Lead Local Flood Authority. The 8 district and borough councils below are the Local Planning Authorities for general development. Derby City Council is a completely separate unitary authority for the city. The Peak District National Park Authority (01629 816200) is the Local Planning Authority for all land within the National Park boundary - this covers large parts of High Peak, Derbyshire Dales and fringe areas of Amber Valley and NE Derbyshire. Always check which authority covers the specific site, as the Peak District NPA has its own separate policies and contact team.
Derbyshire County Council
Minerals and waste planning; Lead Local Flood Authority; highways; Derbyshire Historic Environment Record
DCC holds the Derbyshire Historic Environment Record (HER) - essential for archaeological desk-based assessments and heritage impact assessments across the county. The Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site buffer zone consultation should also be directed to DCC at an early stage. DCC Highways must be consulted on all development generating significant traffic. The former coalfields of north and north-east Derbyshire involve extensive Coal Authority consultation zones.
Derby City Council
Derby city - separate unitary authority; Rolls-Royce headquarters; Derwent Valley Mills WHS; regeneration; historic core
Darley Abbey Mills at the northern edge of Derby city is part of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. Darley Abbey Mill complex (Grade I) is one of England's earliest factories. Derby Cathedral (Grade I), the Silk Mill (now Derby Museum of Making, the world's first factory), and the historic Irongate streetscape are key city centre heritage assets. Rolls-Royce's campus at Sinfin creates major industrial/aerospace consultation zones.
Peak District National Park Authority
All land within the Peak District National Park boundary - separate LPA with own policies; covers High Peak, Derbyshire Dales fringe and parts of surrounding counties
The Peak District was England's first National Park (designated 1951). All planning applications for land within the National Park boundary must be submitted to the PDNPA, NOT to the district council. The PDNPA has its own Local Plan with strong presumption against new development except for agriculture, forestry, affordable housing and appropriate tourism. The Park covers England's Dark Peak (moorland, gritstone edges) and the White Peak (limestone dales).
Amber Valley Borough Council
Ripley, Alfreton, Belper, Heanor, Swanwick - Derwent Valley Mills WHS; National Forest fringe; former coalfield; A38 corridor
Belper and Milford within Amber Valley are core World Heritage Site areas - Belper North Mill (Grade I), the Belper River Gardens and the Strutt family industrial complex are internationally significant. Development within or affecting the WHS or its buffer zone requires UNESCO-level heritage impact assessment. The former Derbyshire coalfield runs through the eastern part of the borough. The National Forest extends into the southern fringe.
Bolsover District Council
Bolsover, Shirebrook, Clowne, South Normanton - former coal mining heartland; Bolsover Castle; E-ON Coalite former site; M1 corridor
Bolsover is one of England's most deprived districts, its economy historically dependent on coal mining. Coal Authority consultation is required across almost the entire district. Bolsover Castle (English Heritage, Grade I Scheduled Monument) - a remarkable 17th-century riding house and castle - dominates the limestone ridge. The former Coalite coke works site at Bolsover is a major brownfield remediation project. Shirebrook is a growing logistics hub.
Chesterfield Borough Council
Chesterfield, Staveley, Brimington, Hasland - the Crooked Spire; former coalfield; M1 junction; canal corridor; Chesterfield Canal
Chesterfield's Church of St Mary and All Saints (the "Crooked Spire", Grade I, Scheduled Monument) is one of England's most distinctive medieval structures, its twisted lead spire visible across the borough. The Conservation Area around the market place is carefully controlled. Chesterfield Canal is being progressively restored northwards and is a statutory consultee zone. The M1 J29/J29a provides strategic access; significant Staveley regeneration area on former industrial land.
Derbyshire Dales District Council
Matlock, Ashbourne, Bakewell, Wirksworth, Cromford - partly within Peak District NPA; Derwent Valley WHS at Cromford; Chatsworth setting
Critical note: parts of Derbyshire Dales are within the Peak District National Park boundary - those applications go to the PDNPA (01629 816200), not DDDC. Cromford Mill (Grade I) - Sir Richard Arkwright's 1771 cotton mill, birthplace of the factory system - is the southern anchor of the Derwent Valley Mills WHS. The Chatsworth Estate (most of which falls within Derbyshire Dales outside the National Park) is a major heritage constraint over a wide landscape setting area.
Erewash Borough Council
Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Sandiacre, Kirk Hallam - Erewash Valley; Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire border; M1 J25; former lace and hosiery industry
Erewash Borough is a compact urban area on the Nottinghamshire border. Long Eaton is Nottingham's south-west satellite and has a significant furniture and lace manufacturing heritage. The Erewash Canal (Canal and River Trust) passes through the borough. M1 J25 (Long Eaton) provides strategic motorway access. Darley Abbey Mills World Heritage Site is nearby to the west at Amber Valley/Derby boundary.
High Peak Borough Council
Buxton, Glossop, New Mills, Whaley Bridge, Chapel-en-le-Frith - Peak District fringe; significant areas within NPA; Pennine moorland; Manchester commuter belt
Critical note: large parts of High Peak Borough lie within the Peak District National Park boundary - those applications go to the PDNPA (01629 816200). Buxton is outside the National Park. Glossop and New Mills are in the National Park. High Peak is also in Yorkshire Water's supply zone. The borough borders Greater Manchester and Cheshire - Manchester Piccadilly is under an hour by rail from New Mills, making this a significant commuter belt.
North East Derbyshire District Council
Dronfield, Clay Cross, Eckington, Staveley (southern fringe) - former coalfield; Green Belt south of Sheffield; rural eastern Derbyshire
North East Derbyshire is almost entirely within the former coalfield - Coal Authority consultation and Coal Mining Risk Assessments are routinely required. Dronfield is a growing commuter town for Sheffield, with significant Green Belt protecting the Sheffield fringe. The district borders Sheffield City in the north, adding South Yorkshire Water supply zone considerations in the very north. Hardwick Hall (National Trust) is near Heath on the eastern boundary.
South Derbyshire District Council
Swadlincote, Repton, Melbourne, Etwall - National Forest; former South Derbyshire coalfield; Trent Valley; Burton-upon-Trent fringe
The National Forest covers a significant part of South Derbyshire - development in the Forest zone is expected to provide new woodland planting administered by the National Forest Company (01283 551211). Repton (Grade I Saxon crypt, Repton School) and Melbourne Hall (Grade I, registered park) are notable heritage assets. The former South Derbyshire coalfield around Swadlincote requires Coal Authority consultation. The A38 provides the main north-south spine of the district.
Building Control
Building Regulations approval and inspections across Derbyshire
District, Borough and City Building Control Services
Each council operates its own building control service
Contact the relevant district or city council directly for building control: Derby City (01332 293111), Amber Valley (01773 570222), Bolsover (01246 242424), Chesterfield (01246 345345), Derbyshire Dales (01629 761100), Erewash (0115 907 2244), High Peak (0345 129 7777), North East Derbyshire (01246 231111), South Derbyshire (01283 595795). Registered Building Control Approvers (private inspectors) operate across all parts of the county.
Heritage & Conservation
Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO WHS, Chatsworth House, Haddon Hall, Hardwick Hall and Bolsover Castle
Historic England - East Midlands
Statutory consultee for listed buildings, scheduled monuments and conservation areas across Derbyshire
Derbyshire has exceptional heritage density. Key Grade I assets include: Chatsworth House (registered park Grade I), Haddon Hall, Hardwick Hall (NT), Bolsover Castle (EH Scheduled Monument), Kedleston Hall (NT, Robert Adam's masterpiece), Melbourne Hall, Repton Priory crypt, Peveril Castle (EH, Scheduled Monument), and the Derwent Valley Mills WHS sites at Cromford (Sir Richard Arkwright 1771), Belper, Milford and Darley Abbey.
Chatsworth - Chatsworth House Trust
Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1PP - Grade I; Duke of Devonshire; Grade I registered park; Capability Brown landscape; Derwent setting
Chatsworth's setting in the Derwent Valley is protected over a very wide area. The Grade I registered park (Capability Brown, Joseph Paxton) and the Edensor estate village (entirely rebuilt by the Duke of Devonshire in the 1840s, Grade II*) set context for planning decisions across a large part of the Derbyshire Dales. Development affecting views of the house or the valley is a sensitive matter for both Derbyshire Dales DC and the PDNPA.
Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site
Cromford-Darley Abbey corridor - UNESCO inscribed 2001; birthplace of the factory system; buffer zone across Amber Valley, Derby City and Derbyshire Dales
The Derwent Valley Mills WHS extends 15 miles from Masson Mill (Matlock Bath) in the south to Darley Abbey Mills in Derby city. Development within the WHS boundary or its buffer zone requires a Heritage Impact Assessment at UNESCO/Historic England standard. The WHS Partnership coordinates planning guidance. Cromford village (Arkwright's model village, Grade II*) is particularly sensitive. Consult the Partnership at an early stage for any significant development.
Environment & Landscape
River Derwent, Peak District habitats, River Dove SSSI and the former coalfield Coal Authority zone
Environment Agency - Midlands
River Derwent (Derwent Valley WHS), River Dove SSSI (Derbys-Staffs border), River Trent confluence, River Wye (Peak District)
The River Derwent flows south through the WHS corridor to join the Trent at Shardlow. Flood risk zones are significant along the Derwent (particularly Matlock, Belper and Derby). The River Dove (Dovedale - SSSI, SAC) forms the Derbyshire-Staffordshire boundary and is highly protected. The River Wye in the Peak District (Monsal Dale, Chee Dale) is a designated SSSI. Yorkshire Water supply zone covers the High Peak/Glossop area in the north.
Natural England - East Midlands
Peak District moorland SSSIs; Dovedale SAC/SSSI; Mam Tor; Kinder Scout; Charnwood Forest fringe
The Peak District contains some of England's most protected habitats - blanket bog on the Dark Peak, limestone grassland on the White Peak, ancient woodland and extensive SSSI designations. The South Pennine Moors SPA/SAC adds European-level protection. Dovedale is a National Nature Reserve. Development near designated habitats requires Habitats Regulation Assessment. Great crested newts are widespread in lowland Derbyshire.
Coal Authority
Former coalfields - North East Derbyshire, Bolsover, Chesterfield, parts of Amber Valley and South Derbyshire consultation areas
The north-east Derbyshire coalfield (NE Derbyshire, Bolsover, Chesterfield) and the south Derbyshire coalfield (South Derbyshire, parts of Amber Valley) are extensive former mining areas. Coal Mining Risk Assessments are routinely required. Lead also occurs in Peak District soils from historical lead mining - this is a contaminated land issue separate from the Coal Authority, managed through the planning process with the LPA.
Utilities & Infrastructure
Water, electricity, gas and strategic roads - note Yorkshire Water in High Peak and Glossop area
Severn Trent Water
Water supply and sewerage across most of Derbyshire
Yorkshire Water (0345 124 2424) serves the High Peak / Glossop area in the north of the county. The boundary broadly follows the Pennine watershed. Developers should confirm the correct water undertaker before submitting planning applications. Many Peak District settlements have no mains sewerage and rely on private treatment systems - this is a critical constraint for new development requiring pre-application advice from both the LPA and Severn Trent.
National Grid Electricity Distribution - East Midlands
Electricity distribution across most of Derbyshire
Northern Powergrid (0800 011 3332) serves parts of the High Peak / Glossop area. Confirm the correct distribution network operator for sites close to the county boundaries.
Cadent Gas - East Midlands
Gas distribution network across Derbyshire
Many Peak District rural settlements are off the gas network entirely. Developers of off-grid sites should plan for alternative heating (heat pumps, biomass, LPG) from the outset. LPG supply should be confirmed with suppliers such as Calor or Flogas.
National Highways - M1, A38 and A52
M1 east of county; A38 Derby-Burton spine; A52 Nottingham-Derby; A6 Matlock-Buxton; A57 Snake Pass (seasonal restrictions)
The M1 passes through the east of Derbyshire (Bolsover, Chesterfield). The A38 is the strategic Derby-Burton trunk road. The A6 and A515 are the main non-motorway routes through the Dales and into the Peak District. The A57 Snake Pass and A628 Woodhead Pass are trans-Pennine routes subject to seasonal weight and weather restrictions. Development generating significant traffic on National Highways routes requires a Transport Assessment.
Trade Bodies
Key construction industry organisations serving Derbyshire
Federation of Master Builders - East Midlands
Representing SME builders across Derbyshire
NHBC
New home warranty and building standards inspection across Derbyshire
LABC
Building control warranty services across Derbyshire