Business

Historic Chesterfield building to become luxury apartments

18th January 2019

Leverton UK have been granted planning permission by Chesterfield Borough Council to convert the historic building at 87 New Square into nine luxury apartments.

The company has been in the process of acquiring the building since early July 2017 and were successful in their bid, completing on the building in June 2018.

Director Marcus Leverton said: “We always intended to buy the building and convert it in to luxury residential living accommodation and immediately after securing the building we set about applying for the necessary planning permission to allow this, which was granted on the 4^th January 2019.”

“This building is a beautiful double bay fronted red brick structure that we believe dates back to the late 18^th century, on land that was leased from the Duke of Devonshire. It will be subdivided in to 7 apartments and 2 penthouse units. Broken down into 3x one bedroom units, 5x two bedroom units and 1x three bedroom Penthouse unit with a stunning roof terrace overlooking the Peak District and the Town Hall.”

“We intend to provide high specification, technologically advanced living spaces, with an abundance of natural light, modern textures and high quality appliances throughout, with open plan communal areas paying testament to the original features of the buildings Georgian heritage.”

“What sets this building apart from any other town centre development is clear, it is a beautiful listed building of significant historical importance with many period features that we intend to lovingly restore.”

The building sits in the corner of New Square, with the convenience of easy access to the town centre shops, café’s, bars and restaurants. It has lift access to all floors making the development fully accessible, with secure car parking to the rear, additional storage areas with space for bicycles and miscellaneous items within the building for added security. In addition, Chesterfield is centrally located, with excellent public transportation links to the rest of the country.

Marcus added: “We are very much looking forward to expanding the business and investing in the future of our local town’s infrastructure.”

Work on the development will commence this year, with the units expected to be released in 2020.

For more information please contact Marcus Leverton m.leverton@levertonuk.com

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development

Avant Homes acquires land for development of 177 new homes at Chesterfield Waterside

16th January 2019

Leading UK housebuilder Avant Homes has acquired a significant parcel of land at Chesterfield’s £340 million Waterside development where it now plans to build 177 new homes.

As a result, Avant Homes has now submitted an application to Chesterfield Borough Council for reserved matters planning approval for the £36m development which will deliver a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes in ‘The Park’ neighbourhood of the Waterside project.

Subject to approval of the application, construction at Waterside Quarter will commence in summer 2019 with the first homes released for sale in autumn 2019.

The construction of homes on the 12-acre former timber yard site on Brimington Road will be the first official ‘spade in the ground’ at Chesterfield Waterside following the completion of site enabling works.

A new highway bridge, which will provide the main access to this phase of the development, will also be constructed as part of the proposals. Planning permission for the bridge was granted by Chesterfield Borough Council at the end of last year.

Waterside Quarter is the third site acquired by Avant Homes in north east Derbyshire in the last six months and will be managed by the company’s Avant Homes Central operation which was established in May 2018 and is based in Holmewood.

Avant Homes Central also has developments in Woodthorpe near Barlborough, Chesterfield, and South Normanton. Waterside Quarter will be the company’s largest development to date in the Chesterfield area.

Avant Homes Central managing director, Stuart Rowlands, commented: “Chesterfield Waterside is a high profile regeneration project and forms an integral part of the housing delivery strategy for the town.

“Avant Homes Central are proud to be at the forefront of these plans with our striking and contemporary proposals for a new community. This is a fantastic opportunity for Avant Homes to demonstrate our good, better and different approach to urban regeneration.”

Chesterfield Waterside is recognised as being one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects, and is being led by Chesterfield-based Bolsterstone Group Plc working in conjunction with Arnold Laver Group and Chesterfield Borough Council.

Peter Swallow, managing director of the Bolsterstone Group Plc, commented: “The deal with Avant Homes is the start of an exciting new phase in Waterside, one that I know the people of Chesterfield has been waiting for.

“I am delighted to welcome Avant Homes to the project. The homes planned for the site embody the aspiration for Chesterfield Waterside. They are both contemporary and high quality in design which, when combined with their location, will create a highly desirable and sought after residential neighbourhood.”

Chesterfield residents have shown their support for the site. A survey last year found it is the development local people are most looking forward to seeing complete.

Welcoming the news, Councillor Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader, said: “Chesterfield Waterside will bring many benefits to the town and it’s pleasing to see the plans for the new homes to be built as part of the development move a step closer.

“The detailed plans are subject to final approval by the council’s planning committee, which will carefully examine the application to ensure the needs of our residents are best met.”

Find out more about Chesterfield Waterside

Stuart Rowlands Managing Director of Avant Central Copyright Paul David Drabble www.pauldaviddrabble.co.uk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development

D2N2 Growth Hub celebrates four years in business

14th January 2019

The D2N2 Growth Hub marked its fourth ‘birthday’ in December with a celebration event including some of the more than 7,000 businesses it has engaged with.

Launched in December 2014, by the then Business and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock MP, the D2N2 Growth Hub uses its wide range of (mostly free or heavily subsidised) services to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Services offered through Growth Hub advisors include help with starting and growing a business, accessing growth finance, training and skills development, leadership training, and expanding into new and international markets.

The D2N2 Growth Hub is part of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP); a private sector-led Partnership of business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community and voluntary organisations, which promotes economic growth, jobs creation and business start-ups in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

The celebration event featured speakers from some of the D2N2 LEP area businesses which have benefited from the D2N2 Growth Hub’s help; including physiotherapy service Jolly Back, Lucy Rennie Communications and business consultancy Talk Staff.

In customer surveys, D2N2 Growth Hub clients have consistently given its services high ‘satisfaction’ ratings. Video testimonies from businesses helped by the D2N2 Growth Hub are on its YouTube channel.

In September 2017, the Growth Hub launched its ScaleUp Service; giving specialist help to SMEs experiencing high growth; characterised as having a turnover of between a million and £15m a year, and which had experienced consistent annual growth of at least 20% for the past three years.

For more information on the D2N2 Growth Hub and its services see its website at www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Made in Chesterfield

Have your say on Local Plan for Chesterfield

11th January 2019

A six-week public consultation is to be held to get the views of residents and businesses about Chesterfield Borough Council’s draft Local Plan.

The plan sets out the proposed future housing, industrial, commercial and leisure land use in Chesterfield until 2033. Residents and businesses can give their views on it between Monday 14 January and Friday 22 February.

Once the consultation is completed the plan will then be considered by an independent Government planning inspector at a public planning inquiry, which it is expected will take place later this year. The inspector will consider any comments made as part of the consultation as well as take representations at the hearing.

Two drop-in information sessions are being held so residents and businesses can find out more about what the plan could mean to them. They will be held on:

Tuesday 5 February at Chesterfield Market Hall, Market Place, between 10am and 7pm
Wednesday 6 February at the Speedwell Rooms, Inkersall Road, Staveley, between 1pm and 6pm

The draft Local Plan can be seen by visiting www.chesterfield.gov.uk/localplan, which will also have details of how to respond and make any comments.

Paper copies of the plan, along with consultation documents, will be available at Chesterfield, Brimington, Newbold, Old Whittington and Staveley libraries, as well as Chesterfield Town Hall in Rose Hill East and the Chesterfield Borough Council Customer Service Centre in New Square.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “This stage of the Local Plan builds on the previous public consultations and is a more formal process which requires us to ask for the public’s views on the soundness of the plan and whether it meets the legal duties the Government sets out.

“The Local Plan is important to local residents and businesses because it is the starting point for assessing the merits of individual planning applications.”

“I would encourage everyone to give us their views and make sure they do it within the six weeks as we are not allowed to accept any late representations.”

Between now and 2033 the plan proposes:

Setting aside enough land for around 5,250 new homes, with a requirement to build at least 4,374 of those. This is a lower figure than in previous versions of the Local Plan. Most of the sites identified were included in the 2017 draft Local Plan but have been updated following comments made during that consultation process.
Continuing to use the existing Community Infrastructure Levy and ‘Section 106’ planning agreements to provide community facilities, such as schools and GP services, in places where development takes place
That major housing developments have up to 20 per cent affordable housing included within them
Up to 25 per cent of homes on major developments meet the higher ‘accessible and adaptable’ standard in the building regulations, which means they can be altered to suit people with mobility issues
All new homes and commercial developments are required to include electric vehicle charging points
Continued support for the restoration of Chesterfield Canal
Continued protection of the Green Belt, and a group of new ‘green wedges’ and ‘strategic gaps’
Developing 44 hectares (108 acres) of employment land
Providing 7,736 square metres of new retail space

Most of the proposals within the draft Local Plan build upon the existing document but have been updated to reflect new planning guidance and legislation, as well as the latest statistical information on a range of topics including population size, housing need and requirements for open spaces.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Leisure

Free Employability and Skills Conference to be held to ensure school leavers are work ready

9th January 2019

Business leaders and the education sector in North Derbyshire are being urged to come together to address employability and skills in the area at a free conference next month.

With more than 14,000 students in North Derbyshire set to gain their GCSE and A Level qualifications over the next five years, the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference aims to strengthen links between education providers and local businesses to ensure school leavers are work ready.

Returning for a third year, the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference, will be held at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa from 8.00am – 10.30am on Wednesday 13 February 2019.

The conference is organised by Chesterfield Borough Council, Gail Widerman of Placing Futures, D2N2 Enterprise Advisor Network and Destination Chesterfield.

The conference is an opportunity for employers and education providers to develop solutions together that will ensure young people leaving education have both the skills employers in the area require and are also aware of the employment opportunities available to them.

One of the headline speakers at the event includes Brendan Kelly, Managing Director of Heathcotes Group, the industry-leading providers of residential care for adults which is headquartered in Chesterfield.

Brendan Kelly commented: “Bringing on talented and dedicated people through apprenticeships has been vital to Heathcotes’ success in what is currently a very challenging health and social care sector. Working with our learning partners, Chesterfield College, we have developed a work-based learning programme which has been very successful in developing long-term careers in this region, so we welcomed the opportunity to speak at this conference to advocate the enormous value of apprenticeships for school leavers and businesses alike.”

Mr Kelly will also be joined by representatives from Capgemini, Brookfield School and St Marys Roman Catholic High School, who will be speaking at the event.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, explained why the conference is so important to Chesterfield and North Derbyshire. He said: “One of the council’s priorities is to ensure that local people benefit from the economic growth that we are seeing in Chesterfield.

“We have to plan now for future opportunities like HS2 and some of the other large developments so that, when those jobs become available, local people are skilled and able to take advantage of them.

“People in well paid jobs get more life opportunities, which means their health and wellbeing tends to be better and they have more cash in their pocket. This means they can spend more in the local economy. In turn, this supports other jobs.”

Gail Widerman, Director of Placing Futures Ltd – an independent consultancy service based in Chesterfield which links vocational learning to schools and employers, said: “Research has shown if a young person has four or more encounters with people from the world of business from year 7 to 11, they are 86% less likely to leave school and fall into NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and on average earn 15% more in their working lifetime. The more engagement students have with businesses while in school helps inform their aspirations and choices post education. It also gives businesses the opportunity to inspire young people to look at careers in our local industries.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Made in Chesterfield

New Year message from Chamber President

7th January 2019

On the day that many people returned to work after a long Christmas break, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) published a video message from its President, Kevin Harris.

In it, he talks about the need to focus on the challenges, positives and opportunities that 2019 will present, rather than the negatives, particularly around whatever happens with Brexit.

“It’s essential we have the building bricks in place to ensure our growth this year, that’s the key to success,” he says.

Kevin, who is Office Managing Partner at RSM, the world’s 6th largest accountancy and advisory firm, based in Leicester, also talks about his goals for his year as Chamber President.

Looking back at 2018, he described the year as “busy”, but one that ended well when the Chamber took the top accolade of Chamber of the Year at the British Chambers of Commerce Awards.

The message ends with Kevin wishing all businesses a prosperous 2019.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Local restaurant wins two prestigious awards

4th January 2019

The Tickled Trout has won Restaurant of the Year and its Owner Chris Mapp has been awarded Chef of the Year in the Derbyshire Life and Countryside Food & Drink Awards 2018.

Hailing from the kitchens of Marcus Wareing and Gordon Ramsay, Chris returned home after working in London and Cornwall, and fate had it that his old local pub was up for sale. Since opening in summer 2014, Chris and his team have worked tirelessly to create an independent pub and restaurant that the village can feel proud of. The Tickled Trout’s reputation has grown and it is now regarded as one of the best places to eat in the Chesterfield area.

Chris and his dedicated team believe in using great fresh ingredients, sourced from local suppliers they know and trust. The award winning gastro pub serves fine wine, great local ales and combines a relaxing atmosphere with excellent customer service. The team welcomes families and has a private dining room for small functions and private or corporate hire.

The Derbyshire Life Food & Drink Awards are designed to recognise the best in the region’s food and drink industry – including local producers and suppliers, chefs, restaurants, pubs and individuals who work within the hospitality industry. The companies are nominated by readers of Derbyshire Life, and the winners have been voted for by people throughout Derbyshire.

Chris said: “I am extremely humbled to be awarded the Chef of the Year in Derbyshire Life, it was a great surprise to me but I am really pleased. However, winning the Restaurant of the Year also confirms that I have a fabulous team that helps me and each other achieve excellence in what we do. We are forever learning and evolving but this group I have are just amazing, these awards represent their hard work and they absolutely deserve the recognition.”

The Tickled Trout was also named the Best Out of Town venue at the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards in October 2018, adding to numerous awards won by the restaurant since opening.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Archaeological survey to take place at Chesterfield car park

4th January 2019

A number of parking spaces at Holywell Cross (Donut) car park will be temporarily unavailable while an archaeological survey is carried out on the site.

Chesterfield Borough Council submitted a planning application in October seeking permission to build a three-floor Enterprise Centre for small businesses on the car park, known locally as the Donut car park, as part of the Northern Gateway scheme.

Before the application can be considered the council is required to do an archaeological survey of the site to identify if there are any significant archaeological features beneath the planned development area.

To enable this work to happen some spaces within the car park will be out of use from Monday 7 January. The work is expected to take between two and three weeks, depending on the weather.

The rest of the car park will remain open as usual but if motorists find the car park is full then nearby alternatives include Soresby Street, Rose Hill, St Mary’s Gate and Durrant Road. Full details can be seen at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/carparks

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “The Enterprise Centre is needed to meet the demand from start-up businesses and existing small and medium sized businesses for office accommodation in a town centre location.

“Having a centre at this location creates jobs and also supports existing businesses in the town centre, particularly around the northern part, by providing extra customers during the day.

“We will carry out the archaeological surveys as quickly as possible to minimise any possible disruption for motorists.”

The planned Enterprise Centre building would include:

32 air conditioned offices, of different sizes, to suit a range of start-up and small companies
Two meeting rooms
High speed broadband access and wi-fi throughout the building
A reception and shared lobby area
CCTV in communal areas inside and outside the building
Facilities for staff working in the building including kitchenettes, break out spaces, showers and a bicycle store

The planning application is due to be considered by the council’s planning committee in February.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

£220,000 of support to create a North Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone

3rd January 2019

Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP has announced the creation of a North Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone.

The £220,000 funding will support the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership to develop the Northern Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone which aims accelerate development on 6 sites across 3 local authorities in northern Derbyshire (Bolsover, North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield). They all have a recognised manufacturing heritage and presence to enable the area to benefit from potential investment associated with the development and maintenance of HS2.

The North Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone aims to provide greater certainty on planning issues to unlock investment for growth by manufacturing businesses in the zone, ensuring more productive land-use and boosting investment and productivity in the area.

This is one of four projects, announced today, involved in the space industry, food sector, and the development of HS2, which will form the new and innovative East Midlands Manufacturing Zones,

Melton Mowbray, Space Park Leicester, and the areas across North Derbyshire and Greater Lincolnshire will together benefit from a total of £500,000 funding to develop their plans.

The investment builds on existing strengths in space, food and advanced manufacturing across the region, helping these important sectors to flourish and boost economic growth and jobs in the Midlands Engine.

The East Midlands Manufacturing Zones aim to reduce planning restrictions to allow land to be used more productively and provide certainty for business investment.

The announcement comes as the Secretary of State, who is also the government’s Midlands Engine Champion, visits organisations across the East Midlands today to hear how they are contributing to a thriving region at the heart of the UK’s economic success.

Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire said: “Manufacturing, innovation and trade are at the heart of the East Midlands economy, so it is the perfect place for the UK’s first Manufacturing Zones.”

“This is another example of how the government’s is delivering for the Midlands with our modern Industrial Strategy backing local businesses and building on local strengths.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “ This announcement is further proof that Chesterfield’s manufacturing sector has the ‘ingredients’ ready and waiting to attract further investment and respond to HS2 opportunities. Thanks to the town’s strong manufactured heritage, we have the skilled workforce with support in place to deliver future skilled workers through both the Apprentice Town and Made in Chesterfield initiatives.

“For the last four years Destination Chesterfield has worked hard to promote jobs and careers in the engineering and manufacturing industry to schools and students in North Derbyshire. The funding for the North Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone not only signals further investment in the town, but also future job prospects for the 14,000 young people who will leave school in the next six years.”

The government’s Midlands Engine strategy is supporting the East Midlands to realise its huge potential.

Initiatives including over £1.9 billion of funding from the Local Growth Fund and an investment of £20 million in the Midlands Skills Challenge to boost people’s employment prospects are enabling businesses to create more jobs, export more goods and services and grow their productivity. Since 2010 unemployment has fallen 38% and there are 64,500 more small businesses.

The East Midlands has also received sustained investment in recent years, including more than £400 million for the strategic road network, more than £60 million to tackle congestion and improve local transport.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development

One to One Support Services praised in Care Quality Commission report

2nd January 2019

One to One Support Services is celebrating due to a glowing Care Quality Commission report. The local care and training provider, with head offices based in Holmewood, and offices in Hasland and Sheffield, has been rated “Good” overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

One to One Support Services provides personal care to people living in their own homes in Chesterfield, north Derbyshire and parts of Sheffield. The service supports older persons, younger persons, children and families. This includes people with learning and physical disabilities, mental health needs and people with multi-sensory impairments.

Staff were spoken to about their experiences within the company. One member of the team said: “We get regular supervision sessions and our practice is observed. In between all of those, if we need anything from advice to actual hands-on support it’s there, from our buddy system right through to the seniors and the managers.”

Another commented on the training they received: “The training is good and our competency is assessed to ensure we have understood. It covers all the mandatory areas like moving and handling safeguarding, mental capacity and food hygiene. We also then have training in areas that are specific to the individual care needs of people we support.”

Clients were asked about their care plans: “I have full input into my care plan together with my family and I have it here.” Another said: “My care plan is reviewed with me I review it with them and is up to date. I have a copy here.”

The report stated that people were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Where people needed support to make specific decisions, their capacity had been assessed.

Finishing quotes in the report from clients stated: “I am happy with the service. It runs well. I have no issues over the running of it at all.” Another client said: “I would certainly recommend them with no improvements required.”

Melanie Ulyatt MBE, Managing Director of One to One Support Services, said: “We are happy about the report as it shows the high quality, bespoke care we provide to our clients. We care for the whole family and value what they say to us.”

“The care staff are committed people with amazing skills and their attitude towards their clients and personal development is exceptional. I am very proud of the whole company and team that makes this happen.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield

Welcome to 2019 – Blog of Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield

1st January 2019

I’d like to kick off 2019 by saying Happy New Year to you all!

2018 was a formative year for Chesterfield – This was the year that all the hard work that has been taking place behind the scenes started to take physical shape and create a presence in the town.

Delivery of the much discussed Northern Gateway development is within touching distance. The new Premier Inn hotel on Elder Way will open early this year and the Saltergate multi-storey car park is well underway; all of which is beginning the visual transformation and regeneration of this area of the Town Centre.

2019 is the year that we’ll also see spades in the ground at Chesterfield Waterside; bringing new life into the area adjacent to the train station and the town centre, as well as adding to the housing, work and leisure offering of the town.

Chesterfield’s rail offering will come further under the spotlight too. We’ve long appreciated the fantastic connectivity of the town, but it has really been brought to the fore with the interest shown in us a result of the HS2 proposals, and by Spanish train manufacturer Talgo.

How ironic that Chesterfield is the final resting place of the father of the railways, George Stephenson, but the town could also be involved in the start of the next rail revolution. This isn’t a pipe dream this could be a reality. The town may have missed out on Talgo’s train manufacturing facility, but we will be getting its £9 million innovation and training centre at Barrow Hill.

Talgo’s interest in the town wasn’t accidental. This, like the developments that are starting to take shape, is the result of the hard work of many people working behind the scenes marketing the town at home and abroad.

The plans which have been taking shape over many years are starting to come together and arebringing job opportunities with it. By way of example, at the end of last year, I was delighted to hear that I-Grunwerg will be taking over the former Franke Sissons site at Sheepbridge. Opening in May, the company will create 60 local jobs.

It is important, however, that we maintain the pace of progress, and everyone has a part to play in Chesterfield’s ongoing success. Let’s make sure we all take the opportunity to praise and promote the town when ever the opportunity arises rather than talking it down. Praise the development you see and call out the nay-sayers. Chesterfield is still very much on the rise and we must continue to recognise and celebrate that.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development