BPL is a single asset business and the freehold owner of the 300 acre Birchall Estate. One of the founder shareholders of Birchall Properties acquired an interest in Birchall in 1988 when it was bare post opencast and is still a part of the leadership today.

Milligan Ltd is a specialist real estate developer with expertise in creating mixed-use destinations in the UK and Europe.  Previous projects include Center Parcs, travel hubs managing non-aeronautical revenues at Manchester and London City Airports and strategic development for Ferrovial Vertiports. Milligan also redeveloped Maremagnum on the waterfront in Barcelona – a large mixed-use leisure and tourist destination and owned and ran Camden Market, London. https://milliganltd.com/

BPL has secured its funds from private sources to date. In addition, a Sheffield City Region Infrastructure grant of £2.85m was awarded in 2015 to fund the access to the consented resort estate and the development of a new public rights of way network. In the event contracted employment outcomes are not achieved a significant element of the grant will be repayable. It is important to note that at the time ‘state aid’ could not exceed 10% of the total investment.

Yes, see Section 7.

Yes see Chesterfield Borough Council https://www.chesterfield.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy-and-the-local-plan.aspx

Chesterfield Borough Council.

Yes.

No.

No.

Works for the Summit started on site four days ahead of the first Pandemic lockdown.  The funder subsequently ceased trading.

Grand Heritage is a US based hotel and resorts business. Following the referendum decision to leave the European Community 2015 and the government’s failure to secure an exit agreement until 2021, GH withdrew in 2019.

+/- 300 acres or 121.4 hectares

Preparation for PEAK development and nature recovery.  There are two forest schools currently operating on the estate.

Yes the property was extensively strip mined these activities ceased late 1980’s and a 30 year period of reclamation and regeneration began.

Yes a 30 acre area to the north east of the estate was used for landfill of construction materials arising from the demolition of the Dama Glass Factory.

Yes.

The Birchall Estate had been used for industrial and business activities since the middle ages. Timber and coal extraction, quarrying, a foundry, ammunition testing and packaging as well as opencast activities.

Yes, this was closed in 2000’s as it was not economically viable and BPL wanted to pursue nature recovery activities on the estate in support of the PEAK Resort.  The golf course occupied approximated 180 acres and was heavily mowed throughout the growing and ecology seasons.

The PROW form part of the Birchall Estate.

The landowner should remove all obstructions but the Local Highway Authority is responsible for the surface of a PROW. To date BPL have maintained the surface to ensure public use.

Surveys have been carried out on a regular basis including strategically placed wild life cameras. A resident specialist maintains an active engagement with the biodiversity on the estate and publishes reports for the board. For the purposes of the planning application independent consultants have been engaged and update reports will be provided as part of the planning submission.

The Environment Act 2021 requires developers to produce a Current Day Biodiversity Report as part of any planning application.  The law requires the development achieves a 10% biodiversity net gain. PEAK will be subject to achieving this. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/30/schedule/14/enacted

Approximately 30% of the estate will have a development footprint. These areas have been maintained for development. Sedum roofs and extensive native landscaping will increase biodiversity in these areas. 70% of the estate will be dedicated to nature and be made available for nature connectivity.

The hotel, the hostel, the skills academy, the PEAK Express, PEAK Horticulture and PEAK Outdoors. These will be supported by retail and food and beverage outlets. The development will be built on a smart campus infrastructure and powered by its own energy generation. The resort estate will include over 10 miles of cycling trails and be home to the national off road cycling school.

No Parking at PEAK is paid for and available to visitors of the resort’s facilities. It is estimated 10% of resort visitors will visit the national park via the PEAK Express, the resort’s carless access service. The PEAK Express operates like a ski lift, users buy a day pass to access trails and places of interest near to the resort estate. A park and ride is not desirable commercially as is it an economically viable.

Yes, many ski resorts are located just outside of national parks and comprise, accommodation, hospitality, leisure, retail, food and beverage and carless access to the slopes and trails within the national park. PEAK is identical but provides access to a wider range of activity, nature, heritage and cultural experiences throughout the year.

Yes, the current planning applications are for a revised phase one subsequent phases will include further overnight and short stay accommodation in hotel, lodge & hostel formats, a world class medical and wellness campus and conferencing facilities.

‍Phase One represents a third of the existing consented approval and will be constructed on 10% of the estate landholding.

PEAK will be constructed on a smart campus infrastructure. Materials used in construction of buildings will be subject to a carbon valuation. It is intended to publish the construction process and performance in trade and other journals and to be a global exemplar of a circular economy.

The phase one development will be funded by a mixture of private equity, debt and public subscription. Some grants may be applied in respect of green infrastructure.

Yes planning approvals are founded on the original outline permission which was approved by the then Secretary Of State.

Reserved Matters and Section 73 approvals related to the outline have been granted on a number of occasions and relate to a phased development.

The planning permission(s) were technically ‘implemented’ in 2015 and BPL received written confirmation the planning approvals have been safeguarded for the future.  

Yes.

Chesterfield Borough Council sought the advice of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and received confirmation the planning permissions had been granted following due process and were extant (live).

The current applications relate to varying the approved phase one proposals by way of Section 73 Application to Vary and bringing forward additional elements of approvals by way of Reserved Matters Application(s).

To reduce the massing and height, to improve the embedded carbon of building materials and foundations, to facilitate a smart campus infrastructure and to create a solid foundation for the long term financial viability of the development.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

No, all parking is paid for and you will also be required to purchase a day pass to use the PEAK Express service.

In the region of 1,000.

Yes, employment and skills training will be made available through the university partner and the local college.

SAGE is an in resort skills academy for the green economy. The skills academy will provide access to skills funding and will be linked to all the operations within the resort estate.

No.

Yes, these will be processed through normal channels at the appropriate time.

Yes, please fill in the relevant form on the Peakliaison.co.uk website.

October 2024 (subject to contract).

Winter 2026.