Peak UK Kayaking Co Ltd has been granted planning permission by Derbyshire Dales District Council to redevelop the former Cromford Garden Centre into a new headquarters, community hub, and activity base called Carrwood Mill.
This development will provide enhanced opportunities for children to engage in kayaking while supporting local heritage and sustainability initiatives.
Located adjacent to the Cromford Canal, the site will also accommodate PaddlePeak, Peak UK Kayaking’s charitable organization, which promotes youth participation in kayaking and coordinates environmental conservation efforts along the River Derwent.
For over 30 years, Peak UK has been at the forefront of kayaking apparel and equipment manufacturing, supplying elite athletes, including Olympians. As demand for its products has grown, the company has sought to expand its operations, selecting the former Cromford Garden Centre as an ideal location for its next phase of development.
This initiative will reintroduce textile manufacturing to the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, aligning with the region’s industrial heritage. The site, which had remained vacant and overgrown for more than a decade, will be revitalized, contributing to both the local economy and environmental sustainability.
Given the site’s brownfield status within a World Heritage Site, careful planning and heritage considerations were essential. James Boon Architects, with extensive experience in heritage-related projects, led the architectural design.
In collaboration with Planning & Design Practice, comprehensive Heritage Impact Assessments were conducted in accordance with ICOMOS guidelines to ensure the proposal respected the historical and environmental sensitivities of the location.
The design incorporates sustainable materials such as local stone and wooden cladding, along with low-energy lighting and air-source heat pumps, in a commitment to environmental responsibility.
This development will not only enhance local infrastructure but also create 12 new jobs. The facility will contribute to the long-term environmental sustainability of the site while fostering community engagement through kayaking activities and conservation initiatives.
Planning & Design Practice said: “We are delighted to have been involved in this significant project and look forward to seeing Carrwood Mill and its positive impact on the local area.”
