The first roofs have been installed on new properties built by Wavensmere Homes at a historic mills site in Derbyshire.
Structural repairs, groundworks, restoration and construction is progressing at pace at the housebuilder’s redevelopment of the former 18th Century Milford Mills, between Belper and Duffield.
The first roofs are in place, with internal works progressing, ready to welcome new homeowners from October.
The £22 million development comprises 69 new homes constructed from locally quarried stone and natural slate within the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The redevelopment of the former cotton mill incorporates 42 two- and three-bedroom houses and 27 one- and two-bedroom apartments, within a four-storey building overlooking the River Derwent and Mill Lade.
Back in its heyday, Milford Mills housed some of the world’s first mechanised industrial spinning factories.
Major structural works to the existing heritage stone boundary walls, including essential sympathetic reconstruction and repairs, have been meticulously completed by Wavensmere’s specialist contractors.
The historic features that have being painstakingly restored include the Mill Lade that runs through the development and now feeds a hydroelectric power plant downstream.
Across the 4.7-acre site, all internal roads and service installations have also been constructed.
Many of the two- and three-bedroom houses, which are priced from £265,000 to £440,000, have already been matched with buyers off-plan.
The full redevelopment, restoration and construction programme – including completion of the waterside apartment building – is scheduled to conclude by mid-2027.
Donna Smith, sales director at Wavensmere Homes, said: “We’ve been thrilled with the local support and strong interest from homeowners as we continue to make progress with this unique redevelopment project.
“People have been waiting for many years to see significant investment and new life injected into Milford Mills.
“We are proud that skilled local craftsmanship and our fine attention to detail is creating a highly sustainable development to add to the village’s vibrancy and appeal.”
The homes are complemented by 1.5-acres of public open space and the recent restoration of the Grade-II listed Dye House by Chevin Homes to form a 4,500 sq ft commercial premises.
As well as Milford Mills, Wavensmere Homes is behind the recently completed Nightingale Quarter residential scheme in Derby and is currently redeveloping Friar Gate Goods Yard into an £80 million mixed-use development.
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