September 2024

Litton Properties are honoured to be hosting Derbyshire CLA for their 2024 AGM at Riverside Works.

This is an unusual visit for The CLA but Litton are hoping to showcase their flagship Riverside Works project. Riverside is a significant mixed use regeneration project set within a National Park as well as a rural and riverside setting.

The site extends to just under 30 acres overall on the edge of Bakewell and was originally a cotton mill developed by Sir Richard Arkwright. It subsequently utilised the first overshot water wheel used in a cotton mill. The site has significant heritage and archaeology designations including a scheduled ancient monument.

What would be a major and complex project in any location has also been faced with significant planning challenges despite being zoned for redevelopment.

The project is now well under way served by a new £1.25M bridge access over the River Wye and is now home to a number of occupiers including award winning Thornbridge Brewery, Chatsworth & The Devonshire Group , The Bakewell Bakery, Carrs Billington Agriculture (Sales) Ltd., DEFRA and others. The site also hosts a gym, two bakeries, holiday cottages, fly fishing and many smaller local businesses in offices, workshops and storage units.

Thornbridge Tap Room welcomed over 120,000 visitors last year.

The next phase is on site and will complete in December. A number of new occupiers including artisan chocolate manufacturers Holdsworth Chocolates, Bloomers Bakery and Huber UK Temperature Control Ltd will move in.

Further plans include a 72 bed hotel, a restaurant and more employment space and residential.

The themes we hope to focus on are: rural business, the planning obstacles they face, the implications of jobs and employment for rural communities and managing commercial assets.

The event is being held in one of the new buildings followed by a site tour and a visit to the Thornbridge Taproom. We are praying for good weather and hope that visitors will find their visit interesting.