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The seemingly natural landscape of the Peak District National Park has evolved through centuries of human influence .....
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Millstone at Park boundary
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The National Park contains over 100 villages and hamlets. They reflect the life and work of the inhabitants and there is a need to maintain their unspoilt character. Some villages have been designated Conservation Areas and special projects may be undertaken to improve their appearance.
NATIONAL PARK IDENTITY
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The National Park logo
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The ‘real life’ millstone on a stone plinth can be seen on roads into the Peak Park and on mounted plates where there is no room for a millstone at the roadside. The millstone symbol is also used on information and signs of all kinds.
The Peak Park does not have standard designs for any buildings or facilities but there are limitations on the materials, colours and styles that can be used within the Park. There are some important points that apply to all ‘building’ in the Peak Park, whether it is a house, a farm building, a bus shelter or a bridge.
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
The traditional buildings in the Park have a special character unique to the area. All new buildings and extensions to old buildings, need to be in harmony with that character. This does not mean copying the old; it means understanding the principles of design used in the traditional buildings (eg the use of a pitched roof) and following those principles while at the same time creating a building of its own age.
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Mass/Shape - A narrow-span rectangular design is required with gabled roof or a combination of simple rectangular shapes.
Materials - Natural stone, that is limestone, the local sandstone known as millstone grit or a lime dash render, are the preferred material or an acceptable alternative that has a similar look may be used; stone slate, blue slate, blue tile are traditional for roofs; there are modern alternatives such as specially designed concrete tiles which may occasionally be acceptable.
These materials also influence the building style. Limestone is hard to cut and usually seen in large irregular blocks. Gritstone can be cut more precisely and is seen in regular blocks and forming cornerstones and sills.
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Old house with gritstone walls, sills and cornerstones
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Boundaries - should be traditional drystone walls of limestone or gritstone or hedges. Stockproof fencing is often needed on farmland and enclose areas of new planting.
Siting - must be inconspicuous; always blending with the landscape, never standing out from it; reflecting existing building patterns in a village.
Street Furniture - such as litter bins, benches, lights, must be attractive and in keeping with the style of buildings; natural materials preferred, metal and concrete used where necessary; the same rules on colour to apply.
The aim must always be to create Good Design in all we do.
