Planning permission granted for homes at Wash Green, Wirksworth

We’re pleased to confirm that planning permission has been granted for a carefully considered rural affordable housing development at Wash Green in Wirksworth, Derbyshire Dales.

Acting on behalf of Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC), Pelham will manage the development and contract for the delivery of one two-bedroom house and two one-bedroom flats. Each home will benefit from being all electric and include private outdoor space and allocated parking, providing high-quality, energy-efficient homes for local people.

Replacing a row of disused garages, the scheme will bring a previously underused site back into positive use. Located on the edge of the Wirksworth Conservation Area, the site is a “Rural Exception” site. The design has been sensitively developed to respect and enhance the area’s historic character. Traditional materials and architectural details ensure the new homes fit seamlessly into the established townscape of Wirksworth.

Simon Henderson, Senior Architect at Pelham said: “We’re delighted to receive planning permission for this site and look forward to working with DDDC on this development. We’ve had quite a lot of impact on the design of affordable housing in Wirksworth over the years, including Queen Elizabeths Close which is adjacent to the new development.”

This project highlights the vital role that well-designed rural housing plays in sustaining local communities, especially in areas where demand for affordable homes far exceeds availability. By enabling residents to remain in the places they have grown up in or work nearby, developments like this help keep rural towns and villages vibrant and inclusive.

The scheme also includes important biodiversity enhancements, such as:

• Swift nest bricks and bat boxes at eaves level.
• Tree-mounted bird boxes to encourage a range of nesting species.
• Wildlife-sensitive external lighting to reduce light spill and protect bats and other nocturnal animals.

District Council Leader Cllr Steve Flitter, said: “Housing that meets the needs of Dales residents is one of the commitments of the Progressive Alliance leadership in our Corporate Plan and we are delighted to see another much-needed development taking shape. These new properties in Wirksworth, which add to our growing Council Housing stock, will be available through the Home-Options scheme and we encourage local people to register at www.home-options.org”

We’re proud to support Derbyshire Dales District Council in delivering rural homes that respond not only to local housing needs, but also to the environmental and heritage context of this unique setting.