Destination Chesterfield

Chesterfield is undergoing a major transformation, with refurbishment plans being carried out by Chesterfield Borough Council for a number of key town centre sites.

The historic marketplace will be revamped with better lighting and power, improved access and new stall layouts, general paving repairs, new flexible trading areas and repairs to existing stall structures.

Key public spaces and the connections between them are also set to be transformed as part of the plans, after the council was successful in securing almost £20m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

£11m will be allocated towards the costs of a £17m project to remodel and refurbish Chesterfield’s ‘striking’ Stephenson Memorial Hall extending the Pomegranate Theatre, reconfiguring and modernising Chesterfield museum, and introducing new gallery space, a café bar, education, and community facilities.

The remaining £8.9m of funding will be used to further regenerate Chesterfield’s historic town centre. The council’s vision is a beating heart for the town, with modern events, experiences, excitement and ease of movement through and around the historic core.

Improvements will be centred around key public spaces (listed below) and the connectivity between these locations, Stephenson Memorial Hall, the iconic Crooked Spire and key visitor arrival points.

• Corporation Street
• Spire Walk
• Rykneld Square
• Burlington Street
• Packers Row
• New Square

The proposals will make the spine and heart of the town centre a more useable, navigable, attractive, safer and healthier place to spend time. It will do this by:

• Improving the quality of lighting in the town centre, contributing to the climate change agenda and increasing and enhancing the overall quality of the urban environment
• Improving the wayfinding around the town centre and usability of key public squares for cultural and commercial events, providing a platform for improved cultural events to attract more visitors
• Improving the digital connectivity, through a bespoke Chesterfield wi-fi network
• Improving the environment for pedestrians and cycling

The latest designs for the scheme were approved by Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet and were subject to public consultation from 24 May to 8 July 2022, with a final Master Plan now in development.