Special quality: Settlements & Communities
# Characteristic settlements with strong communities and traditions
# Description of special quality
PDNP settlements provide a window into the past of the national park. The historical factors governing the creation and development of a settlement are often lost as development continues, but planning laws and strong communities have kept the historic cores in the PDNP relatively intact. Many buildings are now listed as a result. Settlements vary from isolated farmsteads to large manor houses in parkland. Chatsworth House can be seen today as an example of a stately home, with the nearby village of Edensor being a planned settlement for those employed by the estate. Buildings are generally built of local stone, making a White Peak house easily distinguishable from the same in the gritstone Dark Peak. The preservation of traditional communities and ways of life has allowed PDNP traditions to continue and flourish, with well dressing still a common event in summertime.
Features in this category: Boundaries and patterns of enclosure, Building materials, Farmsteads, Field barns and outfarms, Country houses, Listed buildings, Villages associated with medieval strip fields, Local events, Transport links into the National Park, Estate lands and designed landscapes
Below is a summary of the some of the more significant impacts that climate change could have on this special quality.
# Overall vulnerability of special quality
This special quality is moderately vulnerable to climate change. Of the ten special quality features assessed, no features were rated as ‘very high’ on our scale and only 20% were rated as ‘high’. Most features (70%) were rated as ‘moderate’, and 10% were given a ‘low’ rating. Warmer temperatures, as well as storm damage and extremes of drought or flooding, are some of the key factors likely to affect characteristic settlements in the PDNP.
Additionally, a relatively stable and well-managed current condition has meant that many features have been rated as ‘moderate’ in terms of overall vulnerability to climate change. Current condition is usually due to non-climate factors. Much of the built environment, as well as local events and transport links, are well maintained with flexibility in their long-term management and upkeep.
Fluctuating temperatures are likely to affect buildings and their contents and may lead to increased pests and pathogens at some sites. Land use changes could affect field and building usage, with changes to repair and maintenance schedules. The setting of buildings may also be affected. Limited resources may determine which settlements are able to adapt best to future climate conditions.