Development

Talk on Chesterfield Canal to take place at the Winding Wheel

5th March 2019

On Wednesday 13th March at 7.30 pm, John Lower, a long-term volunteer at Chesterfield Canal Trust, will be giving a talk at the Winding Wheel on ‘The History and Restoration of the Chesterfield Canal’.

The Chesterfield Canal Trust is a charitable company run entirely by volunteers. Their aims are to promote the full restoration and appropriate development of the Chesterfield Canal, and to campaign for the construction of the Rother Valley Link, a navigable waterway to join the Chesterfield Canal to the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

John Lower has been a volunteer on the Chesterfield Canal since 1981, most recently involved in the construction of a replica wooden horse-drawn narrowboat of a type unique to the Chesterfield Canal. He is a well-known writer of waterway guides and magazine articles who has given hundreds of talks about the Chesterfield Canal right across the country.

John’s presentation will feature an illustrated journey along the beautiful and historic Chesterfield Canal. On the way, attendees will discover its history, the 12 miles of restoration already completed and what work is still required to once again link Chesterfield with the River Trent. Guests can also learn about the varied activities of the Chesterfield Canal Trust and its more than 1800 members.

For more information and to book click here.

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

Redbrik acquire property management company

4th March 2019

Leading regional estate agency Redbrik have strengthened their lettings proposition with the acquisition of Noble Hardy Property Management.

Redbrik has purchased the assets of the Chesterfield-based property management company and will take over managing the company’s portfolio with immediate effect.

Peter Lee, Lettings Director at Redbrik, said: “This acquisition is fantastic news for Redbrik as we look to expand our lettings service further.”

“We were attracted to the business as it had a very similar ethos to Redbrik in terms of delivering outstanding customer service and striving for 100 per cent occupancy. The company has been run very well by Wilson Spencer, aided by Sam Cauldwell and Joshua Whittaker, and we have inherited a great business with no debt or arrears. It is a really nice fit for the Redbrik brand and a great opportunity to expand our lettings offer in Chesterfield.”

“We are continually looking at ways to attract new landlords so we can work with them and help to maximise their assets. We have an extensive database of tenants waiting for properties and are always eager to add new properties to the market.”

Abigail Wilks, Redbrik’s Chesterfield Lettings Manager, added: “This is an exciting time for the business, and we are looking forward to welcoming the Noble Hardy’s Tenants and Landlords to Redbrik.”

“Providing unrivalled levels of customer service is at the heart of everything we do, and we offer a personal, consistent service with one Lettings Negotiator dealing with properties from beginning to end.”

“Our expert Lettings team provide Tenants and Landlords with a concierge-style service, which is entirely tailored to each individual. We understand what Landlords are looking for in a Tenant and go the extra mile to ensure they find the perfect match.”

When looking so sell Noble Hardy Property Management, Owner Wilson Spencer identified Redbrik as his preferred buyer for the business he started over fifteen years ago. He commented: “I have built a real bond with my clients and my primary focus when I knew I was selling was to choose an agency that would look after and take care of my landlords and tenants. I have known Redbrik’s co-founders Julie Bulheller and Mark Ross for many years, and when I knew they were interested, they were my number one choice.”

For more information, visit www.redbrik.co.uk

Posted in Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development

700 new homes planned for Chesterfield’s Staveley Works site

27th February 2019

A planning application has been submitted to build up to 700 new homes as part of a vibrant new community at Staveley in what is one of the biggest regeneration projects in the Chesterfield area.

As well as new two, three and four-bed housing, redevelopment of the 100-acre brownfield site, known as Staveley Works, will include a primary school, a marina on the Chesterfield canal, retail and community facilities, a cycle and footpath network, and new wildlife habitats.

Formerly an iron and steel works, the site will benefit from more than £100m of investment, which will link the communities of Brimington, Hollingwood, Staveley and Barrow Hill. The first homes are expected to be available in around five years time while redevelopment is scheduled to last around ten years in total. During the building and infrastructure work, the development is expected to create around 200 construction jobs. The completed development is expected to support around 800 jobs in the commercial, leisure and education sectors.

The plans have been submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council by Chatsworth Settlement Trustees, part of the Chatsworth estate, which has owned the land since the 17th Century.

Andrew Byrne, Property Development Director: “Since closing as an industrial site, Chatsworth has been keen to put something back into the community by redeveloping Staveley Works in an attractive and creative way that provides modern housing, community facilities and jobs for people in the area.

“We held a public consultation in December and got a very positive reaction to our plans. We believe we’ve put forward imaginative ideas to redevelop the site. We can’t wait to get started.”

The planning application is the latest stage in a regeneration process that links with the overall aims of Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council to deliver new investment and infrastructure into the area.

The once-bustling Staveley Works site has been derelict for several years when its 200-year history of industrial development, including mining and iron and steel making, came to a close.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development

Plans submitted for offices at Chesterfield Waterside

27th February 2019

Chesterfield’s premier regeneration scheme, Chesterfield Waterside is set to take significant step forward in 2019.

A Reserved Matters planning application has been submitted for the construction of a six storey office building in the Basin Square neighbourhood of the £340million development, in line with the planning permission granted in May 2017.

Subject to planning approval, construction of the office accommodation will begin later this year and will be the first building to be constructed in phase 1 of Basin Square.

In addition to the office accommodation, Basin Square also has outline consent for residential apartments, a hotel and multi-storey car park, all sited around a public realm area and newly constructed canal basin.

The building will deliver circa 35,000 sq ft of much needed high quality, Grade ‘A’ office space to Chesterfield, and is the first step in creating a new business district for the town. The developers are in already engaged in commercial negotiations with occupiers for the majority of the space contained within the new building.

The office planning application follows hot on the heels of an application in January by Avant Homes to construct 177 homes in The Park neighbourhood of the 16-hectare site.

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

As a result of Waterside and Chesterfield Borough Council receiving a £2.7million Sheffield City Region Infrastructure Fund (SCRIF) grant in 2016, extensive site remediation works have been completed to facilitate the delivery of the phase 1 Basin Square construction works.

Peter Swallow, managing director of the Bolsterstone Group Plc, commented: “The submission of the planning application at Basin Square is another major milestone for the development and will deliver the first spade in the ground for this new neighbourhood.

“I am delighted at the progress Chesterfield Waterside is making in 2019. There is great interest in Phase 1 of Basin Square from both investors and occupiers, which has been brought about by the enabling works and granting of consent for the heights and massing of the buildings. It is an exciting time in the development’s timeline.”

Welcoming the news, Councillor Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader, said: “I am pleased that the Waterside development is progressing and the planning application for the office accommodation has now be made.

“The decision on the development will be made by my fellow councillors on the council’s planning committee in the coming months.”

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.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development

New speculative industrial unit at Markham Vale is completed

25th February 2019

A new 15,000 sq. ft industrial unit at Markham Vale in Chesterfield has been completed.

The new industrial unit located just off J29A of the M1 has been developed by Priority Space and provides a secure, self-contained yard area and integral offices, available for sale or lease.

It is suitable for a company looking for new headquarters or a regional hub which provides access to the motorway.

The unit follows the completion of phase one of Wilson Business Park, developed by Priority Space to provide 13 units for small to medium sized businesses and is now fully occupied.

Wilson Business Park sits within the Markham Vale flagship regeneration zone which is a 200-acre business and distribution park.

Priority Space, based in Barnsley, delivers commercial property schemes across the UK. It works closely with local authorities and partners to ensure the spaces are designed to meet the needs of businesses and communities.

Lee Buchanan, co-director at Priority Space, said: “We are pleased to complete the second phase of this development which provides large warehousing space to an area where there is demand. We have seen a great deal of interest in the site and hope to secure an occupant very soon.

“The development of Wilson Business Park has enabled Markham Vale to become one of the biggest commercial parks in the region and we’re proud to have contributed towards that.”

Priority Space is working with letting agents Commercial Property Partners (CPP), which has offices in Nottingham and Sheffield, to find occupiers for the new development.

Stuart Waite, partner at CPP, said: “We are delighted to see the build complete and excited to commence this next phase of our marketing campaign. Priority Space has delivered a high-quality building in a market which is starved of high-quality supply. We already have a strong enquiry list and have commenced viewings of the property.”

Wilson Business Park is built on the site of the former Markham Colliery. It was named in honour of Johnny Wilson who died while working on the site as a miner in 1987. Markham Vale is an employment-led scheme delivered by Henry Boot in partnership with Derbyshire County Council.

Discover commercial property in Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Annual Celebrate Chesterfield event to update town on Vicar Lane transformation

22nd February 2019

The latest developments at Chesterfield’s Vicar Lane Shopping Centre will be unveiled at the annual Celebrate Chesterfield event on Wednesday 20 March 2019 by the centre’s new owner ALTERIS.

Bert Broadhead, Director at ALTERIS is one of the confirmed speakers at the event which is being held at the Winding Wheel.

The town’s shopping centre, which attracts more than three million visitors every year, is set to be transformed and revitalised following its recent sale to property fund ALTERIS.

Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of the Chesterfield Borough Council, will also be speaking at the event, which is expected to attract nearly 300 delegates. Mr Bowen will be updating on the progress the town is making with multi-million pound commercial and residential developments, including Northern Gateway, which recently got the go-ahead for construction to begin on a new enterprise centre.

Celebrate Chesterfield, now in its ninth year and organised by Destination Chesterfield, is one of the biggest and most hotly anticipated business events in the area.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “It’s been a great start to the year for Chesterfield and we’ve got some exciting things ahead. The recent announcement of the transformation of Vicar Lane is just one of the things we are going to be talking about at the event, as well as the town’s other major developments, including Chesterfield Waterside and Northern Gateway.”

“Celebrate Chesterfield is a great opportunity for the town’s business community to come together, not only to celebrate the town’s success, but to look forward to future plans. We have a lot to look forward to in 2019 and we are eager to share our plans with the town at the Winding Wheel.”

The University of Derby is this year’s headline sponsor with Central Technology and Markham Vale – Derbyshire’s flagship regeneration scheme, as associate sponsors.

Julie Stone – Associate Pro Vice Chancellor External Affairs, University of Derby, said: “We are delighted to be working with Destination Chesterfield and supporting the Celebrate Chesterfield event again this year.”

“As Derbyshire’s only university we look to use our academic expertise, research and innovation to foster talent and create impactful partnerships with businesses. The Celebrate Chesterfield event provides a great opportunity for us to have valuable conversations that enable us to understand more about the challenges local businesses face. Our priority remains to understand and effectively service the needs of businesses and to create opportunities for individuals, employers and communities to develop and flourish.”

Ian Snow, Managing Director at Central Technology, added: “Supporting Destination Chesterfield is of huge importance to us at Central Technology. Having been established and working in Chesterfield with year on year growth for over 16 years, we seek to employ local talent and work with mid-market organisations that require IT support and critical data and security protection. 2019 is a big year for Central Technology. We have recently moved to a new 11,000 sq ft office to accommodate our growth and provide more opportunities for jobs in the area.”

“With a key focus on staff training and development, we now have dedicated training facilities and test labs for technical learning time. By attracting excellent technicians and developing our local apprenticeship scheme, we will be able to continue to provide the excellent service our customers expect. The event is a great opportunity for us to meet and work with like-minded mid-market organisations that are keen to grow business in Chesterfield and make it a great location to both work and live.”

Henry Boot Developments (HBD), development partner for the Markham Vale site, will also be attending the event. Vivienne Clements, Director at HBD Sheffield, added: “We are now in our tenth year of development at Derbyshire’s flagship regeneration scheme, Markham Vale, and our partnership with Derbyshire County Council has brought about continued economic growth to the Chesterfield area and beyond.

“2018 saw us maintain 1,600 jobs at Markham Vale, along with securing 164,500sq ft of new commercial space for three global businesses: Protec International, Sterigenics and Grangers International. Our goals for 2019 are to continue to attract both local, national and international companies to the scheme.”

“Business development and employment creation within this region has always been a key focus for the partnership and we are set to achieve another successful year. The Celebrate Chesterfield event is a chance for us to develop our business relationships in the local area and explore exciting opportunities with those looking for high-quality, purpose-built premises.”

Tickets for the breakfast event, which is being held from 7.30am to 11:00am, and includes an exhibition with 28 businesses, are available to book now.

To book your ticket at the event, please visit http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/celebrate/.

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

Ringwood Suite receives transformation refurbishment

22nd February 2019

The Ringwood Suite at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa in Chesterfield held its first large event last week after being closed during January for a full refurbishment.

The Ringwood Suite part of the Grade II listed Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa is the main Ball Room, located in the original building. Although the exact year cannot be stated when the hall was originally built, documentary evidence exists to prove that Ringwood Hall stood from 1809, even then the Ringwood Suite served to be the Ball Room for the family of the house.

During January, the Suite has been lovingly restored with original ceiling detail being highlighted within the new paintwork, new carpets, flooring, patio heaters, chairs, new statement mirrors and a stunning draped domed feature with creates the perfect ambiance. The suite has many uses including, weddings, birthday celebrations and conferences and can cater for up to 250 guests. Find out more.

Rona Davies, General Manager said “We are thrilled to have been able to restore and revive the Ringwood Suite. It has been 9 years since its last refurbishment and it’s fantastic to be able to add the modern touches to this traditional room. The team and I are loving our guest’s reactions to the changes”

For further information on Ringwood Suite please call the hotel on 01246 280077.

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

Green light for Chesterfield’s Enterprise Centre

19th February 2019

The transformation of Chesterfield town centre has taken another significant step forward as plans for a new enterprise centre have been given the go ahead.

The proposals, developed by Whittam Cox Architects on behalf of Chesterfield Borough Council, will see the new centre built on part of the site of Holywell Cross car park and form a vital part of the Northern Gateway.

The new centre will help meet demand for office space to house start up and growing small business and support the council’s existing innovation centres at Dunston and Tapton Park.

When complete, the three-storey building will comprise 32 offices to suit a range of start-up and small companies; two meeting rooms; a reception and shared lobby area; facilities for staff working in the building including kitchenettes, break out spaces, showers and a bicycle store.

Andrew Dabbs, Board Director at Whittam Cox Architects commented, “We are delighted that the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre will soon be breaking ground bringing a contemporary commercial offer to Chesterfield. This development is a great example of how a forward-thinking Local Authority can take hold of its own direction and positively influence change and investment in our town centres. I have no doubt this development will act as a catalyst for further development and opportunities for the town.”

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said: “These plans are a vital piece of the jigsaw in the Northern Gateway scheme and we know from the enquiries we get from start-up businesses how much this type of office space is needed in a town centre location.”

Works are due to start next month and will take a year to complete.

Local businesses looking for space at the new enterprise centre should contact Chesterfield Borough Council’s economic development team by calling (01246) 345255.

The Northern Gateway project is funded by a Sheffield City Region Infrastructure Fund grant of £5.83 million with Chesterfield Borough Council contributing £6.5 million.

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

ALTERIS announces plans to transform Vicar Lane

11th February 2019

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre has unveiled plans to transform the centre following its acquisition earlier this year by ALTERIS.

Purpose-built in 2001 as an open-air scheme, with iconic views through to the famous crooked spire of Chesterfield’s Church of St. Mary and All Saints, the centre draws over 3 million visitors annually.

After five years in receivership, ALTERIS identified an opportunity to create a thriving retail-focused asset in a historic town centre, with one of the UK’s strongest retail heritages, based around the country’s largest open-air market.

ALTERIS is formulating a masterplan vision for Vicar Lane in conjunction with architects Leslie Jones which will see St. James Square become a much more animated focal point within the scheme and re-energise a key meeting point for shoppers within the town.

Bert Broadhead, Director at ALTERIS said: “We’ve identified huge potential in Vicar Lane as it sits in a prime position within a thriving market town. We see a great opportunity to re-imagine the scheme making it more of a centre of gravity for Chesterfield – with enhanced F&B and leisure to complement the existing retail. We also have plans to enhance the public realm to make Vicar Lane a more uplifting place to be.”

“There is much talk of High Streets being in decline at the moment, but this isn’t the case everywhere. We spotted an opportunity with Vicar Lane where we can build upon a positive local catchment, strong asset potential and the prospect of economic growth within Chesterfield – not least via the planned HS2 station a stone’s throw from the centre. After many years of inertia, the centre offers us a blank canvas on which we can build.”

“We will be aiming to work with both national and independent operators, harnessing the latest technologies as well as traditional retail practices to help create a retail experience for the modern age, right in the heart of historic Chesterfield.”

Bert Broadhead will be speaking more about the plans for Vicar Lane at the upcoming Celebrate Chesterfield event on the 20th March, where local businesses come together to celebrate the town and hear about local regeneration work.

Technology is also a key factor and ALTERIS is investing in cutting-edge services which will help make the customer experience more user-friendly and fulfilling.

Tenants at Vicar Lane, which is currently 94% leased, include TJ Hughes, H&M, River Island, JD Sports, New Look, Superdrug, Deichmann, Waterstones, CEX, O2, 3 Store and Holland & Barrett, as well as local brands Quoozies and Ministry.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Leisure, Manufacturing, Visiting

Approval given for new council homes in Brampton

31st January 2019

Approval has been granted for Chesterfield Borough Council to build a further ten new council homes for local families in Brampton.

The council’s planning committee approved the plans at its meeting on Monday 28 January for a mix of ten new three and four bedrooms on the site of the former sheltered housing complex at Heaton Court.

Councillor Helen Bagley, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Homes and Customers, said: “It is 100 years since the Chesterfield Corporation, the forerunner of Chesterfield Borough Council, built the first council homes for local soldiers who had fought in the First World War.”

“I am proud that we are continuing to provide new quality houses for local families and particularly that we are using the skills and expertise of our staff to build them.”

The new homes will be designed by the council’s in-house architectural services team and building work carried out by Fortem Solutions Ltd, which has carried out the refurbishment of our older persons accommodation at Brocklehurst Court and Glebe Court.

The council aims to build 100 new council homes over the next five years.

Families are set to move into four new council homes at Rufford Close this spring.

Plans have been developed and approved for new homes at Manor Drive at Brimington and are also being developed for several other sites including Court Place in Middlecroft and the former Brockwell Court in Brockwell.

The council’s Local Labour Clause also means that the council will use local suppliers as part of the commitment to support local businesses.

For more information on council homes available in Chesterfield visit the On the Move website: www.onthemove-cbc.org.uk or call (01246) 345700.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

Lower council tax rise proposed as Derbyshire County Council consider budget

22nd January 2019

Derbyshire County Council are considering a lower than predicted council tax rise, continual investment in road improvements and targeted spending on services for vulnerable older people and children.

The Cabinet will meet on Thursday, 24 January 2019 to consider how the budget for 2019-20 will be spent, which is proposed to be set at £519.5m.

They will consider which services to prioritise and at what level council tax needs to be set to ensure vital services can continue while providing value for money for Derbyshire residents.

A predicted council tax rise of 4.99% has already been ruled out in previous discussions, in favour of a lower proposed rise of 3.99% for the coming year, with the bulk of the money helping to provide services for vulnerable children, people with disabilities and older people.

At 3.99% it is also lower than the maximum allowed by Government and 1% lower than last year. It will mean that Derbyshire’s share of council tax bills is set to remain below the average for similar councils.

Derbyshire County Council are looking at how they can achieve a freeze on council tax for the two years from 2020 to 2021, which is a challenging aim but one that is in the best interest of residents.

They’re confident that their finances are in a strong position, but in order to ensure the books balance, it has set a departmental savings target of £13.4m for the year ahead. The savings target over the next five years is £63.2m.

Derbyshire County Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis said: “At a time of uncertainty around the economy, we want to do what we can to reduce the pressure on household costs which is why we are going for a lower council tax rise. The bulk of that money will be used to provide support to people who are more vulnerable.”

“In future years our desire is to keep council tax rises as low as possible while working with our community to protect the services that matter to our residents the most.”

While a significant element of savings have been identified, as detailed in the report that will be considered next week, work continues on how to meet the overall target by the end of March 2020.

Alongside the detailed budget report, councillors will also consider the results of the authority’s budget consultation which was held at the end of last year.

Almost 7,000 people responded to the consultation, which asked them to choose from a list of council priorities, marking which they thought should be the top three priorities for the authority.

Improving social care, repairing and improving the condition of Derbyshire’s roads and keeping children and adults safe were the top three priorities for residents.

Residents were also asked as part of the consultation whether they would accept a council tax rise of 3.99%, 4.99% or neither. A total of 31% said they would accept a rise of 3.99%, with 34% saying a 4.99% rise would be acceptable, with 35% saying neither would be acceptable.

Councillor Lewis added: “We’ve listened to what Derbyshire residents have told us in the consultation and we know that protecting services for vulnerable people is a priority, as is continuing to invest in road improvements.”

“In the past year we’ve fixed 68,000 potholes and we’ll be continuing our improvement programme, recently boosted by a £8.4m cash injection from Government.”

In summary, next week the Cabinet will consider:

Setting the annual budget for 2019 to 2020 at £519.5m
Raising the council tax by 3.99%
A 2% adult social care precept included in the overall 3.99% council tax rise which will generate £6.3m
Spending the remaining 1.99% on funding other council priorities including children’s services
Accepting departmental savings proposals to achieve a savings target of £13.4m for 2019-20.

A 3.99% rise in council tax would see an increase of £39.48 per year or 76p per week rise for the average ‘Band B’ household and for a ‘Band D’ household, the rise would be £50.76 per year or 98p per week.

The adult social care portion (2%) of the overall 3.99% increase will cost the average ‘Band B’ property £19.79 a year or 38p per week and for a ‘Band D’ property £25.44 per year or 49p per week.

At the meeting next week, the Cabinet will make recommendations to Full Council to consider when it meets on Wednesday 6 February 2019.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development