William Eichler 09 September 2026

Green light for £130m county hall regeneration scheme

Green light for £130m county hall regeneration scheme image
© Derbyshire County Council

Derbyshire Dales District Council has granted planning permission for the £130m redevelopment of Smedley's Hydro, the Grade II listed County Hall building in Matlock.

Full planning and listed building consent covers renovation of the south building and Winter Gardens into a hotel and event space, plus new flats and commercial space in the north building.

Outline permission was also granted for a new civic building and additional homes.

Council leader Alan Graves called it a ‘practical, locally-led plan’ that would secure the site's future while boosting Matlock and Derbyshire's economies.

The scheme is expected to add £66m to Matlock's economy and £145m across Derbyshire, creating around 100 permanent jobs and over 800 construction and apprenticeship roles.

The new civic building will cut energy use by 90%, saving Derbyshire County Council up to £1m annually.

The county council will retain ownership and is finalising a Master Developer appointment, with construction due to start in 2027.

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