Planning application submitted for new Saltergate car park

Plans for a new, modern Saltergate multi-storey car park have been submitted by Chesterfield Borough Council.

The council’s planning committee will decide on the application for a new car park with more than 500 spaces in the coming weeks.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “The new car park moves a step closer to reality now the planning application has been submitted.

“The new car park will be fit for purpose with wider bays and modern facilities and would serve the town centre, including the Premier Inn Hotel, restaurants and fitness centre being built on the site of the former Co-op department store as part of the Northern Gateway development.”

The previous Saltergate multi-storey car park closed at the beginning of February and work is currently being carried out to demolish the concrete structure, built in the early 1970s.

The demolition work should be completed in mid-April.

Peter Swallow, chair of Destination Chesterfield added: “The demolition of Saltergate carpark is a welcome and visible sign that plans for Northern Gateway are starting to come to fruition.

“The very fact the carpark is being replaced with a larger structure is a key indicator that there is both footfall and demand in  Chesterfield. There are also further multi-storey carparks being built at Waterside to meet future anticipated demand which is being driven by the town’s investment potential.”

The new car park is part of the wider council-led Northern Gateway scheme. Work is currently underway on the transformation of the former Co-op department store which will feature a 96 bedroom Premier Inn hotel on the upper floors, six bars and restaurants on the ground floor and a fitness centre in the basement.

There will also be environmental improvements on Elder Way and a new enterprise centre on the site of Holywell Cross (Donut) car park.