Planning Applications
It can be a challenge trying to protect our town and surrounding countryside from over development, while making sure that we have enough houses and space for our growing population.
Since September 2020 the monthly Planning Committee considers consultation requests on local planning applications and makes recommendations to the full Council.
The Government significantly changed how planning applications are processed and decided from 31st October 2026. Most decisions will now be taken by only a District Planning Officer and apart from larger schemes of 10 dwellings or more, applications will no longer go to the District Council Planning Committee – and even then a decision by committee is not assured. We have produced a simplified chart and brief description to explain how the new system works – click here
Follow these instructions to submit comments on a planning applications to the District Council – click here
The Planning Committee meets on the third Monday of the month. Although planning decisions are made by Derbyshire Dales District Council, the Town Council’s recommendations are often taken into account when final decisions are made.
The Planning Committee listens to the views of local residents, so whether you’re concerned or enthusiastic about any planned developments then the committee wants to hear from you.
Once any recommendations for a planning application have been endorsed by the full Council, the applicant will receive an email with the outcome.
We’re here to help so why not get involved in helping to shape your town and community?
Residents wishing to attend a Planning meeting are advised to contact us via the Attend Meeting Request click through below or telephone us on 01629 735248.
Local Plan 2026
The Local Plan sets out a vision, spatial strategy, site allocations, and policies for development over a period from adoption (c2028) to 2042, covering housing, employment, infrastructure, environment, and more. It must be “sound” (positively prepared, justified, effective, and consistent with national policy) and legally compliant, guided by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance (PPG).
The current adopted Local Plan is undergoing a review and a revised draft Local Plan has reached the stage where it will be sent by the District Council to a planning inspector for examination later in 2026. You can read details of the draft plan by clicking the links below.
Farley Moor
On Tuesday 30th June, after an 18 month campaign, Derbyshire Dales District Council’s Planning Committee voted 8:4 in favour of turning down the application from Forest Holidays to build a holiday complex in Farley Wood – this was a momentous result!
The council heard a large number of speakers with a wide range of experience, qualifications and knowledge arguing passionately against a development which would give over 1/3 of the wood, disturb and destroy wildlife, add to the sewage and flooding problems of Darley Dale and Matlock, and significantly increase the traffic on a rural road.
Your Town Council here in Darley Dale has supported the campaign to refuse the development from the start, and two of your local councillors spoke at the meeting last night; many more came along to join the over 60+ local people, who sat for three and a half hours in a hot council chamber to show their feelings and exercise their democratic right to be heard.
The campaign has ended (for the moment – there may be an appeal) so please now support The Friends of Matlock Forest and use this brilliant space that your council fought to save!
DARLEY DALE TOWN COUNCIL OBJECTS TO FARLEY MOOR HOLIDAY CABIN PROPOSAL
Forest Holidays, in partnership with Forestry England, applied to build 75 luxury holiday cabins with hot tubs, a car park for 249 vehicles, a shop, café, roads and other facilities across approximately 140 acres of Farley Moor woodland near Matlock – a cherished public green space enjoyed by local residents for walking, wildlife watching and quiet recreation.
Darley Dale Town Council strongly objected to this proposal on multiple grounds, including serious concerns about damage to irreplaceable peatland and wildlife habitats, road safety on narrow unlit lanes, increased flood risk to Matlock town centre, and the unnecessary duplication of holiday accommodation already well provided by nearby Darwin Forest.
WHY WE OBJECTED
Darley Dale Town Council’s Planning Committee has examined this application carefully and believed it conflicted with both local and national planning policies. Our detailed objections and policy breaches document is here. Our key concerns were:
Wildlife and habitat damage – the site contains fragile peatland, wetlands and rare species. Felling over 1,300 trees and draining the land for construction would cause irreversible ecological harm that cannot genuinely be offset by the applicant’s Biodiversity Net Gain claims. Each cabin has a hot tub which will drain to the forest floor.
Road safety – Farley Lane is narrow, unlit, has no pavements and is subject to flooding and ice. Hundreds of additional vehicle movements daily from up to 65,000 visitors per year would create unacceptable dangers for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and existing residents. The County Council Highways have approved the proposal with a few conditions, one of which , in the Town Council’s view astonishingly, (condition 5) is to provide a pedestrian access from Farley Wood to Matlock. This effectively proposes a disabled wheelchair and child pushchair suitable, hard landscaped and street-lit footpath from Matlock to Farley Wood – it has to be suitable for all pedestrian users. The Highways conditions and our reply are merged and available to read here.
Flood risk – Farley Moor drains steeply into Bentley Brook and then into the River Derwent in Matlock town centre, which already suffers from an overloaded sewer network. New hard surfaces and drainage from the development risk making flooding in Matlock significantly worse.
No demonstrated need – Darwin Forest Country Park, just one mile away, already offers 137 comparable luxury lodges. There is no proven need for another large holiday park so close, and the proposal risks harming an established local business that employs over 200 people.
Heritage – BBC’s Time Team recently confirmed the presence of a 3,700-year-old Bronze Age ceremonial site including a standing stone within Farley Wood. The development risks damaging this irreplaceable piece of our local history.
Loss of public access – Farley Moor is a public woodland managed for everyone’s benefit. This commercial development would restrict access and prioritise private profit over the open green space local people rely on.