Thornbridge in The Peak Park and the impact of the pandemic.
Thank you for everyone’s best wishes.
Yes we are OK and Thornbridge Hall and Estate is once again thriving and full of life.
Just before the National lockdown - March 2020 - we presented our outline plan for a sustainable Thornbridge to the Senior Peak Park Planning Team. They were encouraging and asked that we pursue the plans.
In the early months of 2021 we invested in the first phase of our plan by creating a new Parkland Drive and a quirky wooden cafe called Quackers. It has given Thornbridge the boost it needed. We are so heartened that families from every background and every race, religion and more are discovering us and telling us that they have fallen head over heels for Thornbridge.
So, now, we realise that, more than ever before - Thornbridge needs to survive beyond us - and ultimately it needs to stand on its own 2 feet - our children know that we plan that Thornbridge will go into a trust and that the trust will always make sure that Thornbridge is open to the public and here to benefit the people - our legacy.
The next stage in the plan is to build the buildings that will house all the arts and craft workshops - glass blowing, pottery, wood, upholstery, upcyling, tapestry, painting and more.
All of this is giving Thornbridge a sustainable future - one that will employ local people in great jobs, help them buy their own homes and bring new families to live and work here. We are working towards apprenticeship schemes too.
The plans for new planting and bio diversity gains are so exciting and engaging with all the local experts fascinating and educational.
The difficulty we face is that the peak Park issued an enforcement action on the 30th May 2021 which was the day before they had asked us to submit retrospective planning permission. We have now submitted an appeal against Enforcement to the Central Government Planning Inspectorate and that appeal has been deemed valid. This process may take years.
We are hopeful that in the long run issues will be resolved as the Peak Park and Thornbridge have many shared interests and values.
A shared vision for the sustainability of Thornbridge will be the result.
Jim and I are looking forward to many many years of sharing all the wonders, new and old, of Thornbridge and the Peak District with our regular visitors and new visitors from everywhere and beyond.
Thank you for your best wishes
Emma
emma@thornbridge.co.uk