Partnership to drive Chatsworth’s next fifteen years
Chatsworth has started a collaborative dialogue on its future with the Peak District’s leading stakeholders including councils, statutory authorities, charities, trade bodies, neighbours and businesses in order to share knowledge, understanding and opinion as it develops a ‘Whole Estate Plan’ that will shape the next fifteen years and beyond.
By sharing its vision and direction of travel for the years ahead, Chatsworth is aiming to build better understanding and common goals with stakeholders to benefit the landscape and environment, jobs and enterprise, local communities and visitors to the region.
Earlier this week (Monday 7 November), more than 50 representatives from Peak District National Park Authority, Derbyshire Dales District Council, local Parish Councils, Historic England, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, National Trust and many others met with Stephen Vickers, CEO of Devonshire Group and Chatsworth’s senior team at Cavendish Hall in Edensor, where they were invited to become involved in the Whole Estate Plan.
The Whole Estate Plan is due for publication in Summer 2023, and Chatsworth will share progress at regular intervals, welcoming further input from stakeholders.
Whole Estate Plans are not a new concept; they represent good practice in holistic planning across environmental, social and economic themes. The use of Whole Estate Plans to enable and support partnership working between Estates and National Park Authorities was successfully introduced in the South Downs National Park in 2016.
Lord Burlington, Chairman of the Chatsworth Settlement Trust: “We understand and take very seriously the responsibility that custodianship and management of such a precious asset as Chatsworth brings.
“We take great care to balance the needs of conservation, access, enjoyment, education, community and economy. At the same time, we value other voices and encourage stakeholders and partners to share their knowledge, ideas and opinions within a conversation that we believe will make development of the plan more effective, by building and enhancing common goals for the benefit of our shared future.”
The Whole Estate Plan covers the core of the Chatsworth Estate, which includes Chatsworth House, garden, parkland, and Stand Wood – all under the management of the Chatsworth House Trust charity – as well as farms, woods, moorland and other interests between Baslow and Beeley, plus Peak Village in Rowsley.
Representatives of the organisations present welcomed the opportunity to engage with Chatsworth over the Whole Estate Plan and are supportive of the process.
Andrew McCloy, Chair of Peak District National Park Authority: “The Peak District National Park Authority is pleased to be involved in the early stages of the development of a Chatsworth Estate Plan along with other stakeholders, and we welcome the commitment to partnership working and strategic planning from the Estate.”
Steve Capes, Director of Regeneration and Policy, Derbyshire Dales District Council: “As Chatsworth begin the development of their Estate Plan for the future, the District Council is looking forward to being part of the process to input and inform its development over the coming months and years.”
Representatives from the following organisations attended the meeting: Peak District National Park Authority, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Forestry Commission, Historic England, Natural England, Accessible UK, Business Peak District, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, East Midlands Chamber, Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire, National Farmers Union, University of Derby, Beeley Parish, Duke’s Barn, Historic Landscape Management, Severn Trent Water, Tissington Hall.
Chatsworth supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
