Historic England has objected to plans to create a waterpark resort in a disused quarry.
Developers want to build the Amber Rock Resort inside Crich Quarry in north Derbyshire. It could include a 152-bed hotel, 128 straw-bale lodges, an indoor water park, 210 holiday apartments, a climbing centre and heritage centre, as well as a cliff-top restaurant and sports complex.
However representatives of Historic England fear that light and noise from the site could impact on the “tranquil contemplation” of a nearby war memorial.
The objection to the plans by applicants BMET Limited comes with a month left before consultations on the project close. Derbyshire County Council will them make a decision.
Planning documents say the project would create 561 full-time and part-time jobs when it is complete, with 200 people employed for the construction stages.
The developers say parking for the site would be “underground” and accessed by tunnels, with space for 634 cars, five LGVs, 100 bikes and 30 motorbikes.
In its objection letter, Historic England details that Crich Stand – a memorial for the Sherwood Foresters Regiment which overlooks the quarry – is a Grade-II* listed “quiet place of contemplation”.
It says: “We believe that the intensive urban nature of the proposed development, along with the noise and light pollution, would result in a highly adverse impact on the setting of Crich Stand, that would result in serious harm to its significance.”
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It also says it would harm the landscape of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, which has come under potential threat in recent years due to a series of developments and disrepaired historic buildings.
Historic England says: “No clear and convincing justification is provided for the scale of development proposed or the potential harm to the significance of heritage assets that would be likely to result.”
It says that Crich Stand, built in 1922-1923, designed to look like an inland lighthouse, has “considerable rarity value”. The organisation says: “In our view there is a strong likelihood of intrusive views of the proposed development in juxtaposition with Crich Stand on its clifftop.
It says “The incongruous urban character and scale of the proposed development would be particularly obvious in views from the viewing platform of the tower, from where there are currently clear views directly into the quarry. It would be inevitable that the proposed outdoor activities would result in noise and light pollution, which it would be impractical to mitigate.
“The noise and light that would emanate from the proposal would have an extremely harmful impact on the tranquil nature of the immediate setting of the memorial tower.
“It should be noted that the memorial was designed as a lighthouse. A substantial illuminated development immediately alongside the tower would diminish the impact of the memorial lighthouse.
“It would be unrealistic to suggest that the potential light intrusion from a development of the size and nature proposed could be mitigated.”
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BMET Limited was approached for comment by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, but the agent for the firm said they would not like to comment at this time.
Coun Paul Yorke, chair of Crich Parish Council, says parish councillors unanimously voted against the water park resort plans feeling it would have an “enormous detrimental impact on the surrounding landscape, environment and traffic infrastructure”.
He said: “This wholly inappropriate proposal fails to protect the landscape and character of Crich parish.
“In particular, it would destroy the tranquillity of Crich Stand and the war memorial, of national significance, which remain historic sites commemorating the sacrifices made by our armed forces in numerous conflicts.
“Since the quarry closed, it has become a thriving habitat for diverse flora and fauna.”
Public consultation on the water park plans ends on Tuesday, April 19.
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