Professor Andrew Rowland, Honorary Professor (Children’s Rights, Law and Advocacy) at the University of Salford, has been appointed as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in His Majesty the King’s 2025 Birthday Honours list for services to Safeguarding and the Protection of Children’s Rights.
Residents plead for Government inspector to reject developer's plan to build hundreds of homes above Derbyshire town
Mar 12, 2025
Source
Derbyshire Times
Summary
On Tuesday (March 11) Matlock Town Hall played host to the first day of a Government inspector-led public inquiry into rejected plans from William Davis Homes for 423 houses on the Matlock Wolds, off Gritstone Road, Sandy Lane and Pinewood Road.
The development, rejected a year ago by Derbyshire Dales District Council, is not being defended by the authority on the advice of independent experts who advised their grounds for refusal were indefensible.
Dr Adam Aitken, a lecturer at the University of Salford, said research into Matlock’s flood resilience he carried out found an “exasperated” community that faced a “tipping point” in being able to cope with future incidents.
New flood research finds Derbyshire town 'distrusts authorities' ahead of showdown over 400 homes development plan
Feb 27, 2025
Source
Derbyshire Times
Summary
A new report by climate resilience researchers has urged authorities to do more to protect Matlock from the threat of flooding, just as the town prepares for a final showdown over plans for hundreds of new houses on hillside fields.
In the hope of learning lessons to apply elsewhere in the UK, social scientists Ruth Mckie and Adam Aitken, from De Montford and Salford universities respectively, carried out field research in Matlock to understand how members of the community are trying to make the town more resilient to increasingly frequent and severe flooding.
Dr Adam Aitken provided key evidence on behalf of the Wolds Action Group versus William Davis Homes in a Government funded public inquiry into the proposed development of 400 homes in Matlock.
“David versus Goliath” Plans to build more than 400 homes on open countryside above Derbyshire town rejected at appeal - due to flooding and public safety concerns
Aug 5, 2025
A developer’s attempt to build more than 400 homes on the open countryside above a Derbyshire town have been rejected at appeal due to flooding and public safety concerns.
Government inspector Joanna Gilbert has dismissed an appeal from William Davis Homes to build 423 homes and a slew of facilities and services on the Matlock Wolds hillside off Gritstone Road, Sandy Lane and Pinewood Road.
This followed the rejection of the plans by Derbyshire Dales District Council in March 2024 with significant concerns over the potential flood impact on the town below which has been repeatedly ravaged by the combined flooding from the river, hillside and sewer system.
In what had been dubbed a “David versus Goliath” battle, residents’ campaign group the Wolds Action Group (now renamed Save our Greenfields) took on William Davis Homes single-handedly after the withdrawal of the district council’s objections following a close-doors meeting in January.
