Champions celebrate milestones across housing, tourism and legal sectors
Our Chesterfield Champions are celebrating a series of major milestones across housing, tourism and professional services, highlighting continued investment and growth across our borough.
Chesterfield’s housing improvement programme has reached a major milestone, with the first 100 kitchens and bathrooms completed under a borough-wide refurbishment scheme.
Chesterfield Borough Council and RE:GEN Yorkshire and East Midlands are celebrating the landmark launch of the Chesterfield Kitchens and Bathrooms Contract, which took place last July. The programme will deliver 300 kitchens and 200 bathrooms each year, modernising council homes and improving living standards for residents.
Each property receives a full upgrade, including electrical rewiring, LED lighting, slip-resistant flooring, refreshed walls and ceilings, upgraded plumbing and drainage, improved ventilation, modern fixtures and fittings, and enhanced fire safety systems.
Residents have praised the professionalism of RE:GEN’s trades teams and the customer care provided throughout the works.
James Taylor, Operations Director at RE:GEN Yorkshire & East Midlands, said:
“Reaching the first 100 completed projects is a fantastic achievement and a real reflection of the collaboration and hard work between our teams. “By establishing our base at Prospect House, we’re also creating local jobs and delivering long-term social value for Chesterfield.”
With a strong foundation now in place, the partnership is set to deliver hundreds more refurbishments over the next two years.
Chesterfield’s visitor economy is also set for a boost with the launch of a new luxury accessible holiday property.
Havendale, created by Chesterfield Champion, AccessibleUK’s director Gillian Scotford and her husband Russell, will officially open on 28 February 2026, with the High Sheriff of Derbyshire and the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield attending the ceremony. The architecturally designed self-catering bungalow is believed to be the first accessible property of its kind in the town.
With one in four people in the UK having access requirements, the development reflects the growing importance of inclusive tourism locally and nationally.
AccessibleUK, founded by Gillian in 2014, is a Chesterfield-based access consultancy and training organisation with a national profile. She also established the Accessible Derbyshire website in 2012, which has become a recognised model for accessible destination information.
Havendale has been designed to provide smooth level access throughout while maintaining a high-quality residential feel. Located close to the town centre, it offers easy access to transport links, the Peak District, major local attractions, healthcare facilities and Chesterfield’s historic market.
Speaking about the project, Gillian Scotford said:
“For many families and individuals with access requirements taking a break away from home can be stressful rather than restorative. Havendale has been created to show that accessibility dignity and comfort can exist together and that inclusive design benefits everyone.”
The property will also serve as a practical example within AccessibleUK’s consultancy work, demonstrating how accessibility improvements can be delivered within existing buildings.
Chesterfield-based law firm CMP Legal is marking five years in business alongside a series of award successes and team milestones.
Founded in March 2021, the firm has grown from four founders to a team of 13 and counting, building a strong presence across employment law, litigation, dispute resolution and corporate and commercial matters.
In January, the firm marked four years since Harriet Flowers and Ameilia Bacon joined as its first employees. February also marked three years since Lauren Pickard joined as Executive Director, leading the development of the employment law offering.
CMP Legal has secured multiple awards, including Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team of the Year at the Sheffield and District Law Society Awards in 2024 and 2025, and Niche Law Firm of the Year in 2025. The firm has also progressed from Tier 4 to Tier 3 in the Legal 500 rankings for Corporate and Commercial work in the East Midlands.
Anna Cattee, Executive Director, said:
“Reaching 5 years is a real milestone for us. It reflects the commitment of our team, the trust of our clients and the support of the wide business community. We are proud of what has been achieved so far and are focused on continuing to build our team, investing in our people and supporting the next stage of the firm’s growth.”
The firm has also been shortlisted in several categories at this year’s Sheffield and District Law Society Awards.
Prince Family Law has announced that Michelle Cooper has joined the team.
Michelle previously founded Acclaimed Family Law in 2015 and is recognised for handling complex and high net worth cases. Her accolades include Inspirational Woman of the Year 2020, Yorkshire Prestige Award 2021, Sheffield Law Society Family Law Team of the Year 2022 and Partner of the Year 2024.
David Prince, Managing Director of Prince Family Law, said it is exciting Michelle is joining the team, adding that they share the same ethos, having both opened niche family law firms dealing with complex and high net worth cases.
RE:GEN Yorkshire & East Midlands, AccessibleUK, CMP Legal and Prince Family Law all support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
