Celebrate Chesterfield

Date confirmed for next year’s Chesterfield Pride following successful 2023 event

The date for next summer’s Chesterfield Pride festival has been confirmed, following another successful event which saw more than 5,000 people attend last month.

July’s celebration saw huge names performing including A1, Tinchy Stryder, Baga Chipz, Stooshe and many more. The event also saw the launch of its hugely successful “Kids Zone” which had lots of arts and crafts and Drag Queen story time. Chesterfield Pride has cemented itself as one of the country’s favourite LGBTQ Pride events.

Organisers say planning for 2024 has already begun for next year’s celebration, which will take place on Sunday, 21st July. Tickets are now on sale for the event.

Dan Walker, Organiser of Chesterfield Pride commented: “I love Chesterfield as a Town. The Town has seen some fantastic growth in recent years and is a great place to live and work. We have had amazing support from local businesses and the community for the event and this has helped us push the event to become really successful.

“We are so proud how far the event has come in a relatively short space of time. To think there was nothing before 2015 to now have an event that attracts over 5000 people is unbelievable. We are passionate about the event and look forward to growing it even further.

“2023 was a huge success and we can’t thank everyone that attended enough. The weather was less than perfect, however the atmosphere made up for this. The whole event was a sea of colour and smiles. We had so many areas of the community attend. We are proud to be a community event.

Dan added: “We are passionate about keeping the event entry costs low making it more accessible to everyone including families (under 16’s go free) The event is run not for profit and by volunteers.”

Secure your tickets for Chesterfield Pride 2024 here.

Find out more about the range of events taking place in Chesterfield throughout the summer at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/summer/

Chesterfield Pride 2023

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Leading industrial automation and electrical engineering firm opens new headquarters in Chesterfield

One of Ireland’s leading industrial automation and electrical engineering companies has opened its UK headquarters in the centre of Chesterfield today.

NeoDyne’s newly recruited team, based at the company’s state-of-the-art Spire Walk office, was joined at the launch by Toby Perkins MP, Shadow Minister for Skills and Further Education; local councillors Jenny Flood and Keith Miles, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council Amanda Serjeant; and Dom Stevens from Destination Chesterfield.

Referring to Chesterfield’s long history of engineering excellence, Matt Close, UK Business Lead, said NeoDyne was harnessing the area’s potential and local talent to guarantee the success of the office. “Chesterfield was the ideal location to base our UK headquarters, with its accessibility to the midlands and the north,” he said. “We are proud to invest in and support the local economy and to work closely with Destination Chesterfield to champion the area.”

Matt Close joined NeoDyne at the start of the year, bringing over 25 years’ experience of working with leading UK automation and engineering companies. He will head up the Chesterfield team.

2_NeoDyne team with Toby Perkins MP and Cllr Amanda Serjeant Dep Leader Chesterfield Borough Council

Introducing Matt, Martin Farrell, NeoDyne MD, said, “With his industrial background, knowledge of our sectors and business connections, Matt brings a wealth of experience and local knowledge to the team. Matt has already grown our UK operation to 15 engineers with plans for significant further expansion. I am confident our UK office will go from strength to strength under his leadership.”

The launch was also attended by representatives from local universities, including Sam Trafford, Andrea Huidan and Greg Stewart, University of Sheffield; and Joe Hockney and John Sorsby, Sheffield Hallam University.

Thanking them for attending, Matt said, “Working with local institutions like Sheffield Hallam University and The University of Sheffield has helped us build a talented and skilled UK-based team. This talent pipeline is another key factor behind our decision to base ourselves in Chesterfield. We are committed to partnering with local universities to help develop future engineering talent through placement and graduate recruitment programmes.”

Toby Perkins MP said: “I am delighted to be joining NeoDyne for the opening ceremony of their new premises in Chesterfield. It is a real show of confidence in our town that NeoDyne has chosen to open here, bringing with them new jobs, and helping to boost the local economy. The company is bringing in highly-skilled jobs and will be a welcome addition to the strong engineering and manufacturing base we have here in Chesterfield.

“Manufacturing in Chesterfield has changed from the days when thousands turned up at factory gates every morning, but still there are products across the world, that are ‘Made in Chesterfield’. “I look forward to formally welcoming NeoDyne to our town and discussing their plans for the future.”

NeoDyne has enjoyed continued growth since its launch in 1998 and employs more than 170 automation, electrical, and IT engineers in six offices across the UK and Ireland.

As a leading industrial automation and electrical engineering solutions and services provider, the company has more than 300 customers, including large multinationals in pharma, high-end food and beverage manufacturing and energy.

Looking to expand or relocate your organisation? Find out why Chesterfield is the perfect location to base your business here.

NeoDyne team with Toby Perkins MP

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Demand for Chesterfield office space soars following completion of flagship developments

Demand for office space has soared in Chesterfield, Derbyshire’s largest town, following the completion of several high-quality schemes, according to new figures published today by Destination Chesterfield.

Demand for space in Chesterfield’s enterprise centres, which provide flexible accommodation for start-ups and businesses with high growth potential, has increased since Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, the town’s newest centre, opened in July 2022.

More than three-quarters (81 per cent) of the office suites are now occupied at Northern Gateway, well ahead of a 50 per cent 12-month target set by Chesterfield Borough Council. Almost half (14) of tenants at Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre are new to Chesterfield, and have either fully relocated to or opened satellite offices in the town since July 2022.

Occupancy rates at Chesterfield’s established enterprise centres have rebounded to above pre-pandemic levels. 85 per cent of space at Dunston Innovation Centre and 87 per cent of Tapton Park Innovation Centre is now let. Occupancy at both locations was below 80 per cent at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and had fallen to 67 per cent at Dunston and 57 per cent at Tapton Park during the third national lockdown in early 2021.

Two floors of One Waterside Place, a 35,000 sq ft office block next to Chesterfield’s mainline railway station are now occupied and Chesterfield Borough Council reports strong interest in the remaining space. Opened in January 2023, One Waterside Place is located in Basin Square, a major part of the £340m Chesterfield Waterside regeneration scheme.

One Waterside Place

One Waterside Place

Private landlords are also succeeding in attracting businesses to new developments in Chesterfield. Occupancy has reached 94 per cent at The Glass Yard, a 50,000 sq ft office and retail park opened in 2022 by Blue Deer on Sheffield Road, Chesterfield. And FI Real Estate Management has secured deals on 1,143 sq ft and 7,647 sq ft spaces at The HQ, a former Royal Mail building delivering 44,000 sq ft of open-plan office space after refurbishment work completed in April 2023.

Chesterfield Borough Council is supporting a series of projects to provide high-quality commercial space for businesses. It has helped bring to market almost 300,000 square feet of modern office, industrial, manufacturing and logistics space since the start of 2022, and expects to make further premises totalling more than a million sq ft available by the middle of 2025.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice Chair of Destination Chesterfield, comments: “Our local economy is growing and the investments we have made in modern attractive office space has helped bring new businesses into the town and created new jobs for our residents. Our investment coupled with our central location, culture of invention, competitive cost base and quality of life, is driving growth across the borough. Demand is soaring from local start-ups, relocating entrepreneurs from the likes of London, Leeds and Sheffield, and bigger businesses wanting more space or to consolidate their facilities in a single, central location.”

Tim Turner, Managing Director at Blue Deer Ltd, comments: “Chesterfield is a thriving business location and the perfect place for the mix of office and retail space we offer at The Glass Yard. Demand for space here has been particularly strong since we opened last year, both from local companies and incoming businesses.”

The Glassyard

The Glassyard

Dom Knowles, Head of Offices at FI Real Estate Management (FIREM), comments: “We’re passionate about putting Chesterfield on the map as a great place to work, improving its offering in line with nearby cities and enriching the lives of the local business community. We recently carried out a £1.2m refurbishment of The HQ to update the building to a Grade A workspace and we’re already receiving high levels of interest. The HQ offers excellent bespoke office solutions and benefits from well-connected rail and road transport networks, making it a great choice for businesses.”

HQ-Chesterfield-exterior

The HQ, Chesterfield

Chesterfield’s business population has grown by more than a fifth (21 per cent) in the last decade, creating 2,000 new jobs, including 1,800 high-value roles in sectors such as advanced manufacturing and professional services. The town recently published an ambitious growth strategy to attract 400 more businesses and 2,000 more jobs by 2030.

To find out more about the wide range of high-quality office spaces in Chesterfield, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/office

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

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Renovated tennis courts reopen in Staveley

Tennis courts in Staveley have officially reopened after a £130,000 renovation, and local youngsters can try out the new facilities at free taster sessions this month.

The courts in King George V Park were reopened at an official ceremony attended by Toby Perkins MP, Councillor Jonathan Davies, representatives from the Lawn Tennis Association and coaches from Tennis Chesterfield on Friday 4 August.

Extensive work has been undertaken to ensure the courts can be used by the community for many years to come, including resurfacing and painting, new fencing, new nets, and a new gate system. The improvements have been managed by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), and funded by the UK Government, LTA Tennis Foundation and Chesterfield Borough Council.

Refurbishment of the tennis courts follows on from a series of investments in the park including the installation of new play equipment, an outdoor gym and improvements to the bowling facilities, multi-use games area, and skate park. Together this has led to the park earning Green Flag status – an internationally recognised mark of quality parks and green spaces.

Councillor Jonathan Davies, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “It’s fantastic to see these courts reopen.

“Public tennis facilities help people of all ages get more active. They also give visitors to our parks more quality options for their leisure.

“We’re committed to providing fantastic facilities in all our parks and investing in facilities like these tennis courts in Staveley, so everyone can enjoy our green spaces.”

Through the Parks Tennis Project, the LTA is delivering the biggest ever investment in parks tennis facilities across Britain, which has been used to transform the courts in Staveley, providing a significant boost to sporting facilities.

This nationwide programme of investment is seeing thousands of existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition brought back to life for the benefit of communities across the country, providing vital opportunities for children and adults to get active.

Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said: “After months of hard work, we’re delighted to see park tennis courts in Staveley officially back open to the public, and in better shape than ever.

“Public tennis courts are such vital facilities for getting active and we want as many people as possible, of all ages and abilities, to pick up a racket and enjoy playing tennis. Thanks to this investment the sport will be opened up to more players, for years to come.”

Stuart Andrew MP, Sports Minister, said: “We are committed to levelling up access to sport which is so important for the nation’s physical and mental health.

“The Government and the LTA are working together to deliver thousands of refurbished courts across Great Britain, supported by £30 million of investment including in Staveley.

“These improved tennis facilities in Staveley will provide the local community with fun opportunities to get active and potentially become the next Andy Murray or Emma Raducanu.”

As well as weekly free park tennis sessions, with equipment provided, the new courts will host Local Tennis Leagues, giving people the opportunity to get involved in friendly and social local competitions.

The LTA and Chesterfield Borough Council will work together to ensure free park tennis sessions are available on the courts, providing regular opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and play.

If there are any issues with the courts like damaged nets or fencing, you can report this by either calling the council on 01246 345345 or reporting online at: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/my-chesterfield

In August, Tennis Chesterfield will be hosting free taster sessions for children, which have been funded through the Holiday Activity Fund. Find out more about these sessions and book online: https://itsaboutmederbyshire.co.uk/

New booking systems and gate access technology means it is now easier for everyone to get on court by booking in advance to guarantee availability. The courts will be free throughout August and there will then be a small fee of £6 per hour to ensure that the courts are maintained at the new high standard for years to come.

Courts are available for the public to book via the LTA website: www.lta.org.uk/play

staveley tennis courts renovation

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Robinson to create packaging for global designer Estee Lauder

Chesterfield manufacturer Robinson has been chosen to create luxury packaging for world-renowned designer, Estee Lauder’s ‘Aveda Parti Pris’ and ‘Mini and More’ boxes.

Robinson Paperbox Packaging has been commissioned to manufacture 2 promotional boxes for Estee Lauder’s premium haircare brand Aveda. Both boxes were made with a black lined board interior using a CMYK outer design which have a matt varnish and gloss UV varnish gloss finish.

Pierre-Alexandre Latimier – marketing assistant for Aveda EMEA commented: “We have used Robinson Paperbox Packaging for a number of projects previously. Their pricing and service levels are one of the main reasons we chose them for this project. With demanding lead times to work to it’s great to have a supplier that can deliver on time and in full.”

Jon Walker – new business development manager for Robinson Paperbox Packaging commented: “These boxes were manufactured on our new SATE rigid box line which has been recently installed. This machine is the most advanced on the market and produces exceptional quality boxes”.

Robinson were also recently awarded FSC ® certification for its Paperbox division.

FSC certification ensures that all products produced at Paperbox are sustainable. FSC-managed forests help provide clean air and water by restricting hazardous chemicals and following strict harvesting and forestry practices. Their work also helps ensure a diversity of animals, trees and plants as well as providing safe working conditions for everyone involved.

Robinson partners with some of the world’s most luxurious brands, from concept to commercialisation, creating widely recyclable packaging made from 100% post-consumer recycled material.

Chesterfield is home to several world-leading manufacturers, which benefit from the town’s proximity to the M1 motorway network and central location. Find out more about why Chesterfield is the perfect place to base your manufacturing business: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

Robinson supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Robinson

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Survey shows urgent care in Chesterfield is amongst the best in the country

A survey has found Chesterfield Royal Hospital’s urgent and emergency care to be among the best in the country.

Information from a Care Quality Commission survey, looking at the experiences of people who attended urgent and emergency care services, has shown Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust scored 8.1/10 – classed by the regulator as ‘somewhat better than expected’.

The survey took place between November 2022 and March 2023 and looked at the experience of thousands of people across the country.

Michelle Veitch, Chief Operating Officer, said: “This is a great achievement for the Trust and based on the themes from the results – which focused on the environment, facilities, waiting times, times and respect and dignity – we have already begun to resolve and improve thanks, in part, to our new ED development which opened on 21 June.”

The Trust received an overall experience rating of 8.1/10, and a ‘better than expected’ for waiting times, with a rating of ‘much better than expected’ for the waiting time to speak to a doctor or nurse not being too long.

Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive commented: “The results are actually even more positive than they at first seem and are a real credit to our Emergency Department. We still need people to ensure they are only coming to ED when they really need us… Think! If you can finish your tea, do you really need ED? We’re generally to be regarded as once in a lifetime visit and for only the most serious cases but we are here when you need us and provide great care and experience, when compared to other Trusts in this survey.”

Key points to note from the survey:

– When asked how long patients waited to first see a doctor or nurse, the Trust scored 7.2, which is actually the best in the country (average 4.7, range 3.4-7.2).
– When asked if patients had confidence in the doctor or nurse treating them, the score was 8.8, (average 8.4, range 7.4-9.1).
– When asked if they were treated with respect and dignity, patients rated this as a 8.9 score (average 8.5, range 7.0-9.3).
– The overall experience – 8.1 (average 7.4, range 6.2-8.3) actually places the Trust as eighth best out of 122 in the country.

Hal, added: “I’d like to give great appreciation to the teams behind this work and though there is always room for improvement it is because of people working hard that we’ve got some impressive results. Thank you.”

The hospital completed the opening of its new emergency department in June 2023, and was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal. Find out more here.

Chesterfield Royal Hospital supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

chesterfield royal new Emergency department

 

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New Business Exhibition Launched In Chesterfield

A new business expo is being hosted at Chesterfield’s Casa Hotel this year, featuring some of the best local companies from across the town.

The Chesterfield Business Expo, taking place on Wednesday 25th October 2023, 9.30am -3.30pm, is an exciting new event for local companies to promote their business, raise brand awareness, increase sales and network.

During a conversation about networking opportunities earlier this year, Chesterfield Business Expo founders, Emily & Simon Coy, realised that there was no all-day business exhibition taking place in the town, so they set about making it happen.

Professional network host and Chesterfield resident Simon Coy says, “Our vision for the Chesterfield Business Expo is to create an outstanding event that brings together a significant number of business people from across the town and beyond.”

Casa Hotel Group Managing Director Mark Thurman is delighted the hotel will be hosting the expo: “The Casa Hotel is the ideal venue for the Chesterfield Business Expo, because being in the heart of the country, we’ve got fantastic transport links, wonderful meeting space and we’re the perfect place to celebrate business to business ideas and networking.”

The target is to attract 500 free attendees who can spend an enjoyable day engaging with the exhibitors, and building high-quality business relationships.

Expo founder, and well-known local Business Coach, Emily Coy says: “There are around 10,000 incredible businesses in Chesterfield, and we want to help them connect and work together to thrive and enhance the local economy.”

Chesterfield Business Expo Founders, Emily and Simon Coy

Chesterfield Business Expo Founders, Emily and Simon Coy

The Chesterfield Business Expo is sponsored by four fantastic local businesses – Paperclip, eatsleepthink, Business Doctors Chesterfield and Minuteman Press Chesterfield. Eatsleepthink Managing Director, Mike Marshall says: “To have a business expo, for me is the natural progression for the area.”

An A5 expo brochure available on the day will feature all exhibitors together with advertising opportunities. The brochure will be given free to all exhibitors and attendees. The cost to exhibit is just £275.00 + VAT which includes a 2m x 1.5m space, trestle table, welcome
drink and two freshly made lunches.

Exhibitors and attendees can book their place now via the expo website – www.chesterfieldbusinessexpo.co.uk

Chesterfield Business Expo, Paperclip, Business Doctors Chesterfield. Minuteman Press and eatsleepthink support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Casa Hotel

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First ever Chesterfield Children’s Festival attracts more than 8,000 attendees

More than 8,000 people attended the first Chesterfield Children’s Festival last weekend, with over 4,000 children participating in the weekend’s workshops and activities.

The free two-day event at Queen’s Park was organised by local arts charity, Junction Arts and was funded by Arts Council England.  The line-up included live music, comedy, silent disco walking tours, theatre, art workshops, storytelling and games – with children of all ages taking part.

Junction Arts Project Coordinator, Jemma Burton said: “Wow, what an amazing weekend! It was great to see so many families turn out for our first Chesterfield Children’s Festival, thousands of people came along to Queen’s Park to have fun with family and friends.

“It was a celebration of childhood and imagination with a host of free activities for families to enjoy and take part in.  Visitors enjoyed impressive live performances including a brass band, a string quartet, a comedy club, theatre shows, Chinese music and daring circus skills!   Children of all ages participated in the various activities trying new things with our interactive art workshops, actual arcade games and silent disco walking tours.

“They also got to explore The Garden of Imagination a newly commissioned artwork for the festival, which took the form of a child’s bedroom and had lots of interactive elements for them to play with, including sound sensors and fantasy characters.

“The aim of the event was to create a welcoming space, where young people and their families could explore art, culture and creativity in an accessible way. I hope that everyone enjoyed it as much as we did and made lots of memories.

“We’d like to thank everyone who came along and created such a lovely atmosphere, we hope to see you all again next year!”

Looking for more events and activities to keep the family busy in Chesterfield this summer? Get all the inspiration you need on our Summer in Chesterfield page!

Junction Arts is an award-winning participatory arts charity, that organises a number of festivals and events, including the Tapton Lock Festival and Bolsover Lantern Parade.

The charity supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Chesterfield Childrens Festival 2023

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Chesterfield-made drinks awarded two stars at prestigious Great Taste Awards 2023

Hogg Norton, an independent producer of fruit liqueurs and other alcoholic beverages has taken two stars at the Great Taste Awards 2023.

Great Taste is the world’s largest and most trusted food & drink accreditation scheme, with products across the world being put to the test by a panel of more than 500 experts.

Hogg Norton’s Rhubarb Liqueur and Gooseberry Liqueur have both been awarded two stars, meaning they have been rated as ‘outstanding.’

The producer has now won a total of 10 Great Taste Awards, after winning accolades in 2019, 2020 and 2021 for various products.

Michael Norton, Co-Owner at Hogg Norton commented: “We are so proud to win the awards, as it is judged by industry experts.

“Winning the awards shows that we consistently deliver a quality product which gives confidence to our customers and also makes us stand out against our competitors.  Having these international awards just shows what local producers can achieve and what amazing products are produced in Chesterfield.”

“It is so important that we use local products, as all our liqueurs are made from all-natural products and are free from any additives, preservatives, colours or flavourings – so the full flavour of the fruit comes through. Being based in Chesterfield and on the edge of the Peak District gives us a fantastic location to source our products.”

Other local winners from our area include Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop, which was given a two-star ‘outstanding’ award for its Chatsworth Honey Ale, and also Global Brands, which recieved a ‘simply delicious’ rating for a number of products across its ‘Franklin & Sons’ range of drinks.

Find out more about Chesterfield’s fantastic range of producers, retailers and food & drink businesses at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/

Hogg Norton supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Hogg Norton selling drinks at the Norton Arms

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Triple Award success for Travel Counsellors

Travel Counsellors, an agency which provides people in Chesterfield and beyond with their dream holidays and trips, has taken home three prizes at the Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards 2023.

The annual Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards are the largest celebration of the travel trade in the UK & Ireland, and the highest accolade for travel agencies and agents. Travel Counsellors won a hattrick of accolades at the event:

  • Home working Agency of the Year (Large)
  • Best Agency to Work For (Large)
  • Sustainability Champion of the Year (Large)

Travel Counsellors prides itself on creating an experience unique to each customer, with every detail taken care of.

Speaking on the company’s award success, Chesterfield-based Travel Counsellor Katie Styring commented: “Personally this is extremely important to me and my business. Sustainability is something that is very important to us, and we are doing our best to drive and improve this across the business. We even have a dedicated person now working in our support team to lead our sustainability strategy.”

“As a business, we collectively strive to ensure we’re delivering the best customer service possible, both across our support teams and our travel agent franchisees.

Speaking about doing business in Chesterfield, Katie added: “My business is built on word of mouth and referrals, with the majority being local customers from Chesterfield. I support businesses locally and I’m an active member of small business networking groups, this has absolutely helped to grow the business to be the success it is, and I am beyond grateful to all clients that have gone on to spread the word.

Find out more about Travel Counsellors and get in touch with Katie at: https://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/katie.styring/ Alternatively, get in touch via email at katie.styring@travelcounsellors.com or by calling 01246 660006.

The company also has a team which can support businesses in Chesterfield with their travel needs. Chesterfield business we collaborate with to support all their travel needs. Find out more.

travel counsellors award win

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Peak Gateway appoints Stirling Prize winning architects

International, award-winning architects, Stanton Williams have been appointed to design The Gateway at PEAK, consented on 300 acres of reclaimed land located on the eastern boundary of the Peak District National Park, near Chesterfield.

The Gateway is intended to play an important role in cementing Chesterfield as a destination town as part of the Peak District experience and providing visitors and the local community with low impact ways to explore the National Park thanks to a zero-carbon travel hub.

Alongside Stanton Williams, a multi-skilled project team has been assembled, led by Milligan, a specialist destination and mixed-use real estate developer, who are working closely with regional strategic partners, including Chesterfield Borough Council, The University of Derby and the Peak District National Park Authority.

Peak Gateway Properties has briefed the team to define and design the Gateway build and operations around the principles of a ‘regenerative enterprise’, promoting the restoration and regeneration of natural resources and social systems.

The founders of Birchall Properties, the landowner, have already invested over 35 years in nature recovery and passive rewilding on the 300-acre Birchall Estate which had been the subject of extensive open-cast activities. By way of the Environment Act 2021 any development on the property must achieve a biodiversity Net Gain of at least 10% on its pre-development status.

The Gateway at PEAK will be an international standard tourist destination providing a basecamp and a gateway into the 550 square mile Peak District National Park.

Like a ski resort the PEAK Resort will be built around a carless mobility service, not in this case to mountains and skiing, but into the Peaks for biking and hiking, for nature, heritage, sport and culture. The commercial village will comprise of experiential retail, locally sourced dining and unique spaces for events, artisan craft and learning experiences.

Gateway @PEAK location

John Milligan, CEO of Peak Gateway Properties and Chairman of Milligan said: “It used to be that an iconic building was one that stood out from its surroundings. The Gateway will be iconic, but we’re setting a new standard for what that means. Here buildings will integrate with their surroundings and work to enhance biodiversity beyond what will be mandated.

“We want to attract a discerning visitor, who cares about the protection of the UK’s original National Park and wants to enjoy the wellbeing benefits that nature and being in the outdoors, for either leisure or sport, can provide. A wide range of experiential retail brands with a unique proposition centred on nature and the outdoors will help create the destination.

“The travel hub is central to the Gateway’s proposition, allowing visitors to transition into electric or hydrogen vehicles for onward exploration of the Park, its stunning landscapes and thousands of activities and attractions. This is a way to expand access to the park and support more destinations in a low impact way. Currently 85% of visitors travel into the Park by car which is not sustainable. Last year we ran the first trial for the travel hub alongside Toyota and other local partners. The technology operated on a 40% regenerative energy basis which is fantastic. The trial stakeholders and users endorsed the urgent requirement for this sort of service – when it’s up and running we hope it will be an exemplar for other hubs around the Park and for other National Parks in the UK to follow.”

Gavin Henderson, Principal Director at Stanton Williams, said: “We are delighted to be working with PEAK Gateway Properties to realise their ambitious vision for this exceptional site. The Gateway will be a unique destination designed as a cohesive group of buildings integrated into the landscape. The scheme embraces the principles of the circular economy and uses highly sustainable, durable materials including local stone and timber. As well as regenerating a former open-cast mine, it supports natural ecosystems through habitat protection and enhancement, while connecting people with nature and encouraging active and low-carbon travel to and within the Peak District.”

Rupert Carr, a founder shareholder in Birchall Properties, the landowner, and a director of PEAK Gateway Properties said; “The planning consents for PEAK Gateway Resort were implemented and safeguarded in 2016. We are very pleased to be moving forward again after surviving the challenges of Brexit and COVID.

“The realisation of Gateway fulfils our long-held ambition to showcase regenerative enterprise through land reclamation, a low carbon build and significant local employment creation.

“It is particularly pleasing to be a first mover in respect of offering tourists a zero carbon, carless mobility service to the attractions and landscapes of the UK’s first national park and to the medieval market town of Chesterfield.”

The Gateway’s zero carbon mobility service and its related infrastructure are critical to the delivery of this £300m investment programme into the visitor economy. The intention is to emulate the success of an international ski resort by providing hospitality and mobility from the outside of a national park. The Gateway, phase one of the PEAK Gateway Resort, represents a £150m capital investment and over 1,000 jobs, secured through a ‘green economy’ skills academy.

Section 73 and Reserved Matters Applications relating to the consented planning approvals will be submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council early Autumn.

Birchall Properties supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

The Gateway @PEAK Bird's Eye View

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