Proposed Watersports Hub for Former Cromford Garden Centre

The site of a former garden centre, which closed in 2006 and has since attracted urban explorers, may be redeveloped into a watersports facility alongside a canal. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LRDS), proposals lodged with Derbyshire Dales District Council outline the demolition of the remaining structures at the Cromford Garden Centre site on the A6. The plans detail the construction of a new headquarters, a community hub, and a base for children to engage in kayaking activities. Peak UK Kayaking Ltd, the applicant, has stated that the proposed two-storey building would incorporate solar panels on its roof, and the majority of the existing trees on the site would be preserved. Peter Astles, a Director at the company, informed the BBC: “We’ve hired heritage architects to keep the building respectful of the World Heritage Site.” Discussing the project further, Mr. Astles commented: “It’s going to be very screened. The aim is you don’t really notice the building from any direction.” He also stated: “The idea is we build a very sustainable building.” Adding to this, he said: “Ideally, we want to be carbon neutral, if not create more power than we need.” Mr. Astles concluded: “We’d become custodians of a derelict site that currently is vandalised – there are beer bottles everywhere, I’ve seen syringes there, it’s a real mess.” Peak UK Kayaking Ltd specializes in the production of apparel and equipment for various watersports, such as canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. The company has a history of supplying World and Olympic champions, a practice it has maintained since 1990. Mr. Astles explained that the company’s affiliated charity, ‘British Canoeing Club, Paddle Peak,’ has dedicated several years to introducing local children from all backgrounds to aquatic environments. He noted that every August Bank Holiday since 2018, over 1,000 local children have participated in kayaking activities on the Cromford Canal, as part of the Cromford Mills Adventure Weekend. He further stated that the charity’s objective is to foster a “relationship with the canal along with a permanent space to return and learn kayaking properly” for local children. Presently, Paddle Peak operates its activities from Cromford Wharf, lacking a dedicated facility close to the canal. Mr. Astles elaborated that: “The proposal is designed to provide both a headquarters for PEAK UK and a base for Paddle Peak on one unified site, allowing them to run more efficiently and effectively together.” The company reports a current full-time workforce of 12 individuals and anticipates an expansion of this number.