Chesterfield Waterside to welcome Communities and Local Government director general

Chesterfield Waterside is  to welcome Communities and Local Government director general.  D2N2 – the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – is hosting a visit from Peter Schofield, the Director General of the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG), on Friday, May 3.

CLG are one of the Departments that have provided resources for the Growing Places Fund (GPF) and Mr Schofield will be visiting to look at projects that are already, or could in the future be benefitting from the work of the D2N2 LEP.

D2N2 chairman Peter Richardson and chief executive David Ralph will show Mr Schofield the growth potential of business locations, and small and medium sized firms, in our region by touring projects and businesses in the area.

One stop on his tour will be the Chesterfield Waterside project, where they will meet withPeter Swallow, the developer of the site and chair of Destination Chesterfield, as well as representatives of Chesterfield Borough Council.

Chesterfield Waterside is an innovative and sustainable £340 million scheme and is currently the (47th) largest regeneration project in theUK, which will rise from the remains of the old Trebor factory and is a major mixed-use regeneration scheme located immediately adjacent to the town centre.

The site, which incorporates elements of the River Rother and Chesterfield Canal, and sits alongside the A61, will provide a thriving and successful new destination, including the creation of a new community with 1,500 modern houses and apartments, new employment opportunities, shops, cafes and bars around the new canal basin and public square.

David Ralph said: “We are building a relationship with Government and through our senior sponsors it is critical part of our Growth Plan. Therefore we welcome Peter Schofield to look around the area and hear about the work D2N2 is doing and proposing to grow the region’s economy.

“We are looking to take him to both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, including to the Chesterfield Waterside project, and I am sure this will be the start of a number of visits to our area. We will continue to help grow the region and we are working relentlessly towards doing that.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said, “We welcome this opportunity to work with D2N2LEP in hosting Peter Schofield’s visit to Chesterfield to discuss the importance of the Chesterfield Waterside project to the town, and the region, and how the Government’s ‘Growing Places’ funding scheme will be instrumental in bringing forward the first phase of development.”

Mike Hayden, head of regeneration at Chesterfield Borough Council, said: ‘We’re delighted to welcome such a senior government official toChesterfieldto see the great opportunities the town has to attract investment and create jobs and new homes.

“Chesterfield Waterside is set to transform the town and with the help of £750,000 from the Growing Places Fund awarded by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership to support the infrastructure costs, we expect development to start by the end of 2013.”