Chesterfield’s year of investment: confidence, collaboration and £2bn of opportunity
Chesterfield isn’t just planning for growth, it’s delivering it. With a £2bn investment pipeline and regeneration projects already transforming our town, 2025 has been a year of visible progress and optimism. From major schemes to cultural initiatives, our town is building confidence for the future and creating opportunities for businesses and residents alike.
Our latest roundtable discussion with Chesterfield Champions discussed progress in 2025.
A year of progress
This year’s Chesterfield Investment Summit, attended by 200 delegates, showcased a £2 billion pipeline of projects and 7,800 potential jobs. Once complete, these developments will bring an additional £473 million in GVA to the local economy.
The summit, organised by Destination Chesterfield, brought together businesses, developers, investors, and public sector leaders to share plans for regeneration and growth. Attendees left “buzzing,” as one put it, because of the scale of investment and the commitment to benefit the people of Chesterfield.
Voices of confidence
For Ruth Whiteman, who launched Peak Project Solutions from her Chesterfield home this year, the Chesterfield Investment Summit was a turning point. She said:
“The room was full of people who care about Chesterfield and want to help it thrive. As a new business owner, that sense of shared purpose gave me confidence that this is the right place to grow.”
Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, summed up the Council’s proactive approach to regeneration, from bringing forward office developments during the pandemic to driving forward town centre regeneration and meet the changing needs of the high street. Cllr Gilby said:
“We pride ourselves on providing leadership. Coming out of the pandemic, we made sure people could see cranes in the sky and optimism in the air. Chesterfield is alive and well and getting on with things.”
Catherine Wenborne, MD of Vines Legal, who moved her business from London, echoed this confidence. She said:
“I’ve never lived anywhere with this level of pride and ambition. It’s refreshing and exciting.”
Transforming spaces
That optimism is visible across our town. One Waterside Place, the office development at Chesterfield Waterside, is now fully occupied, with further opportunities for hotel and residential investment. The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, built during the pandemic, has become a hub for modern businesses seeking flexible, high-quality space.
In Chesterfield, the first phase of the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project is complete, refreshing the Market Square. In Staveley, the Town Deal is breathing new life into the heart of the town with new community facilities.
Richard Sherwood, Director at Chesterfield-based Roy Peters Estates, said:
“The Chesterfield marketplace refurbishment is fantastic. You walk through town, and it feels vibrant. We should give credit for what’s happened.”
Driving economic growth
Alongside town centre regeneration, strategic sites are powering economic growth.
Markham Vale continues to attract industrial and logistics investment, with new speculative development bringing forward more space for growth.
The East Midlands Investment Zone sites at Staveley will create opportunities for advanced manufacturing and green sector businesses to invest and grow.
Tom Wragg, Associate Director at FHP Property Consultants, sees this as a positive sign. He said:
“The development around Markham Vale, all the industrial schemes going on brings employment and people into the area to live, which ultimately supports the town centres.”
Beyond buildings
Regeneration isn’t just about bricks and mortar. Investment has also focused on experiences that bring people together. The Animate Chesterfield public art project has created a new mural from internationally renowned artist, Peachzz, alongside a heritage arts trail, a town centre projection mapping project, and a new sculpture for Staveley town centre.
Events and a Christmas Tipi at Chesterfield Market have added colour and atmosphere to our town centre, creating spaces where people want to stay longer.
Behind the scenes, Chesterfield Borough Council’s commitment to local labour clauses has created 395 jobs for residents and injected £11 million into the supply chain in 2024-2025, alongside 44 apprenticeships.
For businesses like Willmott Dixon, which recently broke ground to build a new £30 million custody suite for Derbyshire Constabulary, social value is central to their work. Jolene McLaren explained:
“We’re committed to supporting apprenticeships and community initiatives alongside major projects. It’s about making sure investment benefits everyone.”
Peter Lawrence, Senior Business Advisor with East Midlands Chamber, echoed that investment is not just about attracting new businesses but supporting those already here. He said:
“Chesterfield is a great place to relocate to with so much investment going in, but also a great place to retain, and looking at the retention of people that already live here and businesses that are already here.”
Looking ahead
As 2025 draws to a close, Chesterfield can look back on a year of progress that has strengthened its economy, enhanced its public spaces, and built confidence for the future.
Discover how you can be part of Chesterfield’s growth story at https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/
