About Derek Mills
Derek Mills studied in London and was admitted as a fully-qualified associate member of
the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in May 1972 and elevated to the
senior rank of Fellow in June 1984.
Following graduation he was first employed in an architectural capacity, renovating departments
of the Leicester Royal Infirmary. He then became Area Surveyor for The Burton Group,
responsible for all that organisation's properties throughout southeast England. A period as
Assistant to a Surrey firm of surveyors followed for whom he carried out valuations, building
society surveys, structural surveys and planning permissions. He was then 'headhunted' by
a major firm of London property developers to become their Project Manager overseeing the
conversion of substantial old London town houses into modern luxury flats, including ten large
houses in Cadogan Square and Pont Street.
In 1975 Derek Mills set up his own building and development company, converting numerous buildings in and around London's Sloane Square area.
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In 1980 he moved to the Aylesbury Vale area where he has since practiced continuously
as an independent chartered surveyor, providing a full range of building services both to
intending buyers and to landowners and developers.
His expertise covers a broad spectrum of building categories, in historical as well as contemporary
styles. He has developed a comprehensive knowledge of traditional construction methods, dating
from as early as 1550, acquired during 30 years of carrying out structural surveys and valuations
of diverse building types varying from large mansion houses and estates, through the whole
spectrum of housing, to contemporary single-bedroom flats. He is now considered an expert in the
renovation of listed buildings. He is familiar with the many specifically indigenous and diverse
residential construction techniques characteristic of the Aylesbury Vale area and, thanks to a
rapport developed during his extensive dealings with Local Authority technical representatives,
has also gained an enviable reputation for his persistence and skill in obtaining planning
permissions on 'difficult' sites.
As well as countless property surveys on behalf of intending buyers, Derek Mills has carried out the following significant projects involving the renovation and conversion of listed and/or historic buildings:
- Two thatched listed cattle sheds at Crafton.
- Conversion of old gardeners' potting sheds and boiler house at Manor House, Little Gaddesden, into a modern family dwelling.
- Conversion of the village school at Haddenham into two family homes.
- Three wychert barn conversions at Cuddington. Wychert is a traditional type of construction unique to the Cuddington area. The walls of the building are a composite of stone, animal dung and horsehair which is rendered externally. For structural stability the walls need to retain a degree of dampness, a factor that makes conversion for residential use testing.
- Other developments include Church Farm Barns and Red House Farm, both listed buildings at Long Marston. Successful completion of these two projects involved protracted negotiations to obtain planning permission.
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