Scroll down the main menu to read through each section of this website. If you are using a mobile device, you can scroll down to read each section in full, and then click the left and right arrow buttons to navigate to the previous or next section.

Each section of this website has a descriptive map key in the main menu, with hints to let you know about any interactive features on the map.

Once you reach the end of the website, we will ask you to complete a short survey about the future of the site. Your views really matter to us.

You can pan, zoom and tilt the map to fully explore the site.

Click the "Start reading" button below to get started.

This website features narration by:

Bruce Calton
Head of Urban Design
UMC Architects

Audio transcript:
On behalf of Breedon Cement Works, it is a privilege for UMC Architects and the team to be part of this exciting early consultation engagement about the future legacy of this amazing 800 acre site.

I am Bruce Calton Head of Urban Design at UMC Architects.

The reason we are consulting is that in 2042 it is anticipated Breedon Cement Works will cease operation.

This does seem a long way off but Breedon recognise that it takes time for great ideas to emerge and to be tested and carefully considered in the context of the Peak District location, the immediate context of our local villages and the people, stakeholders, government bodies, local authorities and visitors who want to have a say in how you believe the site could be treated after the current industry finishes extraction in 19 years' time.

We will be part of an open and wide reaching 3-day consultation process held on site and the information also displayed on the Breedon website [this website] for all to read and we all encourage everyone to contribute your thoughts on how you see the future of the site evolving.

To help create a dialogue and open discussion we have offered our thoughts on how parts of the site and structures could be treated. These are not fixed nor expected to be implemented but provided to offer ideas how a site of this magnitude and importance in the local economy could be considered.

We have divided our thoughts up into a range of categories and looked at global examples of where similar repurposing, rewilding, reinstatement and reinvention has happened to help stimulate ideas that may form part of the future economy, health and wellbeing, leisure, recreation, education or social infrastructure directly supporting our local communities and businesses.

We have divided our thoughts into: nature, tourism, heritage & learning, our community, energy potential, and employment opportunities.

We also recognise that the Breedon Cement Works boundary touches our local communities with Castleton, Hope and Bradwell who have lived alongside Breedon Cement works since 1929 when the works commenced, and there may be ideas of how the site can support the sustainable growth of these villages contributing to helping deliver housing, employment, leisure and recreation activities that supports existing tourism and local businesses.

2042 seems a long way off but the legacy left by Breedon Cement Works is not just for our current communities and population but people who are not yet born and in 19 years' time would come to, use and be part of a site that is shaped by these early consultation ideas you have provided.

I look forward to welcoming everyone to have a stimulating discussion about the future of Breedon Cement Works.

Thank you.

Idea - Nature?
Much of the 800 acre site is relatively inaccessible to tourists and local communities due to the industrial nature of the cement works, however when activity has ceased, the site could become a key network within the wider walking and hiking activities that the Peak District is famous for - helping create connections across and through the site linking areas currently cut off by the cement operation, quarries and industry.

Taking a cue from the very successful and award winning New York Hi Line where former elevated tram line structures passing through the city have been successfully repurposed into publicly accessible elevated landscape walkways and meeting places, the Breedon Cement works elevated conveyor and connecting structures could be accessible in a new elevated landscaped walkway with meeting places overlooking a quality landscaped environment.

Idea - Tourism?
Whilst on site we all witness dramatic paragliding from Mam Tor across the skyline and landscape and due to the topography created by the limestone quarry, could this activity be based within the site as a starting point of a much wider paragliding experience starting the journey at the top of the limestone quarry for a dramatic start to the journey.

Looking to Wales for the world's longest zip wire crossing a flooded quarry provides a direct comparison of the opportunity to emulate the same experience as part of a wider recreation, leisure and alternative tourism activity, complementing the Peak District tourist offer. The spectacular topography of the quarry platforms provides the dramatic backdrop for multiple zip lines crossing the quarry heading down into the heart of the existing industry. An adrenalin activity complementing the tourist offer on site.

A major site of 800 acres with its unique topography created by quarry excavation could offer adventurous mountain biking within the site, protecting more rural routes from mountain bike erosion. Containing new activities within the site as part of the wider tourism recreation and leisure activity would be a complementary use. If desire routes extend beyond the site boundary, the site could be a starting point with a 'centre parcs' style mountain bike centre for people to arrive by train and jump on a bike to explore the surrounding landscape.

Extensive woodland has grown up around the industrial heart of the 800 acres since operation started in 1929. These woodlands shield much of the activity within the centre of the site and could form the basis of further recreation and sport activity that the site could offer in the form of multiple dry luge routes that are formed between the trees and landscape coursing down from the upper quarry areas through the woodland and finishing at the core industrial centre in the middle of the site. Again, Wales has led the way with examples of dry luge courses operating in quarry and woodland hillside environments.

The feature chimney, a landmark structure in the landscape could form part of a wider recreation and leisure environment within the brownfield area of the site repurposing the chimney and surrounding industrial structures into a rock climbing and abseiling features allowing visitors to climb within the chimney and abseil down the outside. This could be part of an exciting and unique leisure park experience similar to the former Ironworks in Duisberg, Germany - now advertised as a Giant Neon Playground after the industry closed down and reinvented itself as a rock climbing, abseiling, adventure centrepiece of industrial reuse, utilising all the existing structures in an innovative way to form unique outdoor sports activities.

Idea - Heritage and Learning?
Thinking totally outside of the box is a favourite past time, on exploring the cement works we were struck by watching the two mammoth cylinders rotating at the heart of the site, processing the cement materials and led us to ideas as dramatic as repurposing these cylinders as flooded cave exploration, dry cave and tunnel adventure and a global centre for training cave emergency procedures or just tourist cave adventure with an experience unrivalled across the world.

With the opening of Battersea Power Station's Observation Deck, Lift 109, we considered the landmark chimney that has represented the Breedon cement works since 1929 as a possible tourist destination rewarding visitors with spectacular 360 degree views across the Peak District utilising the existing structure and retrofitted with a lift and high level observation deck at the very top.

Idea - Community Benefits?
Waterfront living is an aspiration of many. The remaining shale quarry already exhibits the physical characteristics of an area that could naturally flood as a small quarry lake with a flat landscape at the edge and a dense woodland backdrop all separated from the main cement manufacturing plant. With an existing road to the shale quarry, in time, the environment would be reinstated and could offer a natural setting to provide high value residential accommodation in a unique setting placing homes sitting half in and half out of the water. All the homes could be exquisitely detailed using local materials and contemporary and contextual design referencing the architecture of the villages and the natural setting. This approach could help address local housing supply needs without taking precious Peak District land within the existing villages of Castleton, Hope and Bradwell.

Idea - Energy Potential?
In 1929, the landscape prior to the cement works commencing operation was characterised by open exposed hillside and valley topography. Since then, extensive woodland has grown around the central brownfield industrial area shielding activity and many structures and activities from the local villages. Land has been reinstated and replanted or left to naturalisation. The enclosed character of some parts of the site - especially the south facing quarry edges of south facing flat land could be used for a solar farm that would contribute to the national energy needs and provide a local energy source for the 4 villages that surround the site, contributing to the UK moving towards a net zero carbon environment. Contained within an enclosed environment, even long distant mountain top views would not see any form of solar panel making it an interesting opportunity in which the site could contribute to greener energy production.

Industry and employment have been an intrinsic part of the site since 1929, nearly a 100 year history contributing to the local economy. Existing structures with the bulk and mass of industry is part of the brownfield nature of the site. Considering the sustainable employment opportunities where 200 employees currently work on site, could this industry reinvent itself into the emerging Hydrogen production industry. We could open discussions with local Universities who are already developing new courses in this field and develop a future industry on site that helps lead the UK into the hydrogen world using green energy produced on site from a flooded quarry using water in a gravity fed generator to produce on site electricity to extract hydrogen for the UK.

An Engaged Space community engagement on behalf of Breedon Group and actively maintained by Deetu. To find out more, please get in touch.

We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data.

All feedback is being collected on behalf of Breedon Group.

In accordance with our Privacy Policy, responses will be shared with Breedon Group and their professional advisors as part of the statutory consultation process.