There was hope last summer that “real change” was coming to the crumbling Derwent Valley Mills heritage site after years of indecision over its future.
Belper Mills, a key part of the Derwent Valley Mills Unesco World Heritage Site, are in “poor condition” after they have stood largely derelict for decades.
A decision on a planning application was initially expected at the end of 2025, but was then delayed by Amber Valley Borough Council until early in 2026.
The MP for the area, Jonathan Davies, is calling on the council to make a decision on the application as soon as possible.
The owners of the site hope to redevelop it into new homes and potentially a museum and heritage centre.
But given the costs involved and Unesco heritage concerns, the project is fraught with difficulty.
However, local leaders say they are confident of significant movement on the mills in 2026 as the council now has what it needs to make a decision and a potential funding from the East Midlands mayor to kickstart the scheme.