£6.5m centre transformation gets go-ahead

A £6.5 million plan to transform Derbyshire’s National Stone Centre has been given the green light.

Towards the end of last year, a detailed planning application was jointly submitted to Derbyshire Dales District Council by the National Stone Centre and the Institute of Quarrying to turn the site, near Wirksworth, into a centre of excellence for the industry – and a place to inspire the next generation.

The first phase of the project includes a 100-seater café/restaurant, four classrooms with a combined capacity for 120 learners, museum/exhibition space, souvenir shop, playground and open-air circular piazza for community events.

The National Stone Centre officially opened in 1990 to inspire people to engage with the origin, industry and the history of stone.

It is set within six former limestone quarries on a 40-acre Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The design of the new centre draws on influences from local rock formations, including the overhanging rock formations found in local gritstone outcrops, such as Black Rocks and Stanage Edge.