Derbyshire Creative Industries Workspace Site Analysis

Extensive site analysis across the County to identify sustainable and deliverable opportunities for the development of managed workspace to support and develop the creative industries sector in the area.  Sites were identified in the central area of the County at Cromford, serving the wider target area of Matlock, Wirksworth, Ashbourne and Belper. The work paid particular attention to the influence and affect of the key urban centres at Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham and Derby, and the potential relationships between ‘rural’ and market town development with such centres.

A sector mapping exercise supplemented the site appraisal, identifying a vibrant and active cluster of creative businesses and enterprise in the Cromford, Matlock and Wirksworth area.  The resulting strategy proposed a ‘Derbyshire Creative Industries Development Corridor’, identifying a phased programme of buildings and production facilities, developed in tandem with a parallel study carried out for New Opportunities Wirksworth (see Creative Futures Project, Wirksworth).

The study for the County Council has now progressed to the second stage, where ci:p and Allen Tod Architecture have been retained to examine the first building developments within the strategy and develop a detailed business plan, design and delivery vehicle/route.