Chesterfield regeneration

Businesses celebrate Chesterfield’s biggest successes from 2023

2023 has seen significant investment in Chesterfield, with sites including One Waterside Place, Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, and Hartington Business Park all helping to grow our town’s economy.

Meanwhile, announcements of further developments in the town continue to drive forward economic activity, with multi-million pound projects set to get underway in Chesterfield and Staveley’s town centres. Planning permission has been submitted for the much anticipated Gateway @Peak development, giving visitors a base to explore Chesterfield and the Peak District.

With major progress being made across our town in 2023 and further ambitions for growth in 2024, the town’s network of Chesterfield Champions have shared with us their biggest successes from the past 12 months.


Peter Swallow, Chair, Destination Chesterfield

Male Chair of Destination Chesterfield Pete on stage at the Winding Wheel Theatre

“This year, it has been great to see the success of the town’s new flagship office spaces, One Waterside Place and the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre. Elsewhere, Markham Vale continues to attract new businesses to the area, and Staveley’s Hartington Business Park has also demonstrated a strong appetite from businesses to invest in our town. In 2024, I look forward to projects such as the Gateway @Peak, the refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall, and the revitalisation of our high streets boosting Chesterfield’s regeneration even further.” 

About Destination Chesterfield.


Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader, Chesterfield Borough Council

Female leader of Chesterfield Borough Council in red jacket on Town Hall balcony

“There is lots to be excited about in 2024. We will continue to put external funding to good use by investing in the future of our borough, our project to revitalise Chesterfield town centre will begin and link with the transformation of Stephenson Memorial Hall into a world-class theatre and museum. Working with our Staveley Town Deal partners, significant progress will be made towards realising the ambitious projects that will ensure the town is a place to start, to stay and to grow. We will also be investing in more affordable housing for our community. Heading into 2024 we continue to face some difficult decisions around our budget, but we will ensure that putting our community first is at the heart of everything we do.”

About Chesterfield Borough Council


Dom Stevens, Manager, Destination Chesterfield

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield

“2023 has been a year of positivity and progress. New events such as Peddler Market, Chesterfield Children’s Festival, and Eat in the Park, alongside established favourites, have helped to support our independent businesses and the wider economy. In 2024, I look forward to more of the same, with partnerships and collaborations helping bring forward our town’s ambitions.”

About Destination Chesterfield.


David Pratt, Building Control Manager, DBCP

David Pratt - DBCP

“The new office developments in Chesterfield have been a triumph for the town in 2023. They have attracted businesses into the town and set the bar for construction standards and high quality where building control is concerned. With all the developments happening now, and in the future, it is an opportunity for the town to lead on build quality next year and beyond.”

About DBCP


Amy McCroray, Marketing Administrator, Rosewood Wealth Management

Amy McCroray Rosewood Wealth

This year, Rosewood has enjoyed being part of Chesterfield’s flagship regeneration project, Chesterfield Waterside. Joining 3 other businesses in relocating to the environmentally-friendly Basin Square office building, the development will encourage more visitors to Chesterfield and create stronger local business links. Looking ahead to 2024, the Rosewood team is most optimistic about the continued regeneration of the town with upcoming projects to include the refurbishment of Chesterfield train station.

About Rosewood Wealth Management


Nick Grayson, Managing Director, Pinelog Limited

Nick Grayson Pinelog

“2023 was the year that Pinelog became part of Chesterfield’s business community, after we relocated our manufacturing premises from Bakewell to Sheepbridge. Being able to see Chesterfield’s success developing in real time and the growth in business premises has been immensely encouraging. There is so much happening in the town, and I am delighted that the business is now part of the story. 2024 will be an exciting year for Pinelog and Chesterfield.”


Anna Melton, Owner  and Director, In the Works PR

Anna Melton In The Works

“What a year 2023 has been! Full of highs and lows, which Chesterfield has dealt with and, in many cases, emerged stronger. Looking to the future, I have high hopes for the town centre. There is a lot of investment taking place and the new offices at the Donut and Waterside are adding to footfall. I think 2024 will be the year that local people rediscover Chesterfield town centre.”

About In the Works PR


Rob Woodhead, Head of Private Client and Executive Director, BRM Solicitors

Rob Woodhead - BRM Solicitors

“2023 has seen a year of progressive change for Chesterfield and we’re looking forward to seeing what 2024 will bring for the town. We’re delighted to continue to be one of the leading providers of commercial and private client legal services in the area and we’re delighted to champion Chesterfield as a great place to do business as well as being a sought-after place to live. We’ve had another successful year supporting the local community and being a part of the ongoing regeneration of the town through various commercial property deals.”

About BRM Solicitors


Siân Spencer Bray​​​​, Clinical Director & Lead Psychotherapist, Therapy and Lifestyle Clinic

Sian Spencer-Bray Therapy and Lifestyle Clinic

“2023 has brought to light the togetherness of our businesses. With many collaborations and partnerships, you can see how passionate Chesterfield businesses are about working closely with each other to offer more to customers and service users. The increase in events in and around Chesterfield brings a great sense of community and showcases many of the wonderful businesses we have too. It is wonderful to see so many businesses championing positive mental health and wellness in their workplaces and within the community.”

About Therapy and Lifestyle Clinic


Josh Dickens, Business Development & Marketing Manager, SMH Group

Josh Dickens SMH Group

Chesterfield FC is the biggest success story in our opinion, and we aren’t just saying this because of our sponsorship of the stadium. The team’s captivating performance promises the potential for promotion, anticipating increased attendance, TV exposure, sponsorship opportunities, and financial support for various developmental aspects. Additionally, the Community Trust’s takeover has fostered stability and trust, attracting businesses and fans eager to support the restructured setup.”

About SMH Group


Mike Jones, Customer Relationship Manager, Windowcharm Blinds & Curtains

Mike Jones-Windowcharm

“Over the past year, there have been many successes for Chesterfield. One of the biggest achievements has been the town’s ability to maintain a strong economy despite the challenges posed by the cost-of-living crisis. The community has shown resilience and adaptability, and I believe this will continue to be a driving force for growth in the years to come. With continued investment in infrastructure and businesses, the town has the potential to become a hub for innovation and a destination for visitors.”

About Windowcharm Blinds & Curtains


Chris Sellars, Chief Executive and Legal Counsel, Bridge Help

“The floods were devastating for the town, including a member of the Bridge Help team whose home was flooded. However, to see how everyone pulled together helping residents and businesses, confirmed that Chesterfield’s spirit continues to be strong in adversity. 2024 will be a challenging year for the country, however I have no doubt that Chesterfield will not only come out fighting but stronger – if past performance is anything to go by.”

About Bridge Help


James Pogson, Managing Director, Northern Tea Merchants

James Posgon - Northern Tea Merchants

“The floods brought devastation to Chatsworth Road and surrounding areas this year, and Northern Tea Merchants was one of the many businesses affected. Whilst terrible, I was delighted at how the community rallied to support each other. Changes need to be made, so I am looking forward to seeing new and successful flood prevention measures in 2024, that will preclude this from happening again and will benefit residents and businesses.”

About Northern Tea Merchants


Jamie Wajs, Owner, Lime Living Estate Agents

Jamie Wajs Lime Living

“The town continues to show that it has an attractive and strong local business and employment economy and there has been a good level of positive investment in new infrastructure during 2023 and with more in the pipeline for 2024. This is making Chesterfield an attractive place to live and work, with the town having a lot more to offer.”

About Lime Living Estate Agents


Katie Ash, Head of Employment Law, Banner Jones Solicitors

Katie Ash - Banner Jones Solicitors

“I’m excited to see that there have been so many new business start-ups over the year and businesses relocating to Chesterfield. As a Chesterfield business of 145 years, it is important for us that the local economy grows and strengthens. We continue to build strategic partnerships with local businesses (including other Chesterfield Champions) offering a full range of commercial legal services and employment law services”.

About Banner Jones Solicitors


Stuart Rooker, Careers Lead, Direct Education Business Partnership

stuart rooker image DEBP

“It’s been fantastic to see a brand-new programme piloted in Chesterfield this year and set to expand over the next four. The ‘Careers Made in Chesterfield’ (CMiC) workshop programme is an exciting initiative to deliver careers-related workshops in schools and forge links with local businesses. The pilot focused on the property and construction sector, and the project will widen to include health and care, and engineering and manufacturing.”

About Direct Education Business Partnership


David Whiteley, Co-Director, FWD Motion

David Whiteley FWD Motion

“Chesterfield’s ongoing resilience is what really stands out for me in 2023. It has been incredibly moving to see the community come together to support one another. We simply hope that in 2024 we see our residents, workers, and businesses back on their feet.”

About FWD Motion


Rod Auton, Secretary, Chesterfield Canal Trust

“I’m delighted that One Waterside Place is now fully occupied. Hopefully this will be the encouragement needed for the rest of the developments around the canal basin at Chesterfield Waterside to get underway. I am very much looking forward to the Staveley Town Deal’s canal projects starting on the ground after years of planning. These are the construction of the first building at Staveley Town Basin, the new Trans-Pennine Trail Bridge and the subsequent restoration of the canal further east.”

About Chesterfield Canal Trust


Dominic Staniforth, Partner, BHP Chartered Accountants

Dominic Staniforth BHP

“Chesterfield is experiencing a renaissance, with schemes like the £340 million Waterside Regeneration project playing a vital role in attracting both talent and high-quality businesses to the area. Our home, One Waterside Place, a desirable location next to the station, has proved the mantra ‘build it and they will come’, with its six floors of Grade A office accommodation now fully let. It was fantastic to see the Government award a £20 million grant from the Levelling Up Fund which will support the refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall, modernisation of Chesterfield Museum with new education, and community facilities.”

About BHP Chartered Accountants


Amy Revell, Co-Founder and Director, We Are Spaces

amy revell wearespaces

“The office market in Chesterfield has been a great success! One Waterside Place is now fully let, The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre is more than 85% occupied, The Glass Yard is around 95% occupied and The HQ Building is proving popular. These successes then support further developments to materialise and ensure a good level of Grade A office space continues to be available. I believe we are very well placed to ensure businesses can recruit and retain skilled people in high quality and affordable workspaces.”


Paul Lewis, Head of Partnerships, Mortgage 1st

“It is tough to narrow it down to one standout moment from the year but the town benefitting from £20m over the next 10 years via the Government levelling up investment fund was a pivotal success for Chesterfield in 2023; this along with further investment in and around the town will hopefully see the town centre flourish once more. The hope of enhanced amenities and job opportunities means that we can all look forward to 2024 with great optimism.

About Mortgage 1st


Matt Close, UK Business Lead, NeoDyne

Matt Close NeoDyne Landscape

“2023 marks a milestone for NeoDyne with our first Christmas in Chesterfield. The Borough Council has successfully attracted and supported new businesses in 2023, and we’ve certainly experienced the welcome and benefitted from their support. Looking forward to 2024, we’re excited about the continued investment in the town centre and Waterside regeneration projects. We intend to play our part by championing Chesterfield as a great place to live and work.”


Richard Fowler, Technical Sales and Account Manager, RA Information Systems

Richard Fowler RA Information Systems Landscape

“Having worked alongside our customers for over two decades, we have seen a remarkable transformation in Chesterfield’s business landscape. The recent success of Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre and One Waterside Place, coupled with a surge in office space demand, reflects the town’s commitment to fostering a dynamic and tech-driven environment for businesses. This achievement positions Chesterfield as a robust hub, creating a ripple effect that not only attracts investment but also contributes to technology-driven workspace provision for the local community. Exciting times lie ahead as we continue to shape Chesterfield’s economic success story.”

About RA Information Systems


Emma Pymm, Head of Partnerships and Client Relations, ActionCoach

Emma Pymm Action Coach

“The real success for Chesterfield is the continued progression of our business community working together and building impactful relationships. I hope that we can continue to put Chesterfield on the map as not just a through town to the beautiful Peak District, but a thriving gateway for visitors to enjoy and make unforgettable memories. In turn, this will build our economy for future generations. I believe the Gateway at PEAK will play a major part in supporting this.”


Kriston Harvey, Director, Rodgers Leask

Kriston Harvey - Rodgers Leask

“I think the biggest success in 2023 has been the strength of the public and private sector collaboration to drive forward the numerous local projects. It was evident from the full house at the Chesterfield Investment Summit just how broad the support is within the local business community. On a personal level, I was delighted to be involved with the Careers Made in Chesterfield initiative. It was great to see the enthusiasm from the students and excellent to hear that a number were now considering a career in the construction industry!”

About Rodgers Leask


Jimmy Drew, Commercial Manager, Derbyshire County Cricket Club

“Our five days of cricket at the picturesque Queen’s Park are the highlight of our calendar, especially the T20 match. In front of a sold-out crowd, an incredible atmosphere and a record victory of 144 runs in 2023, we hope next year’s festival can be bigger and better than previous years, as we continue to put on a brilliant event for the residents in the north of the county.”

About Derbyshire County Cricket Club 


Emily Bowman, Managing Director, Junction Arts

Emily Bowman Junction Arts landsape

“Here at Junction Arts, we are extremely proud of the Chesterfield Children’s Festival that we delivered this year. We welcomed over 8,500 people across the two-day event, boosting the town centre economy and encouraging families to experience a range of creative activities. We are excited to build our offer for Chesterfield next year and are looking forward to creating more memorable moments for families to come together, share ideas and get creative!”

About Junction Arts


Catherine Wenborn, Managing Director, Vines Legal Limited

Catherine Wenborn Vines Legal

“The biggest success for Chesterfield over the last year is the continued creation of great spaces for work and leisure encouraging businesses to relocate and visitors to the town.  In the coming year I hope to see currently unoccupied premises filled or redeveloped to good purpose.”


Nick Gorman, Owner, CCM Change Consultancy

Nick Gorman, CCM Change Consultancy

“The sustained and growing synergetic relationships in our Chesterfield business community continue to be a highlight of working in the town. The networking and knowledge share are vital to the quest for a thriving and rewarding business environment. Our future strategy should involve a plan that looks to capitalise on the environmental ambitions of CBC, matching our local business passion, acumen, professionalism, and innovation with a pursuit of sustainability.”

About CCM Change Consultancy


Georgia Severn, Sales Co-ordinator and Head of Marketing, Custom Solar

Georgia Severn Custom Solar Landscape

“The biggest success for Chesterfield 2023 from my perspective at Custom Solar is the increase in local business’ investments into renewables. We’ve helped multiple clients in our local hometown start their journey to Net-Zero with Solar PV installations, which inevitably, supports the town’s goals too. For 2024 we are excited to continue supporting our neighbouring companies reduce their Carbon emissions as we already have multiple projects for Chesterfield in our pipeline.”

About Custom Solar


Ben Knights, Trainee Estates Manager, FI Real Estate Management

Ben Knights FI Real Estate

Within 2023 FI Real Estate Management has seen numerous changes to businesses ways of working and how they want to utilise the space in which they work from. Chesterfield itself is almost perfectly adapted to these requirements with the council identifying these trends early and creating space to help nurture growing local businesses. Something we also did ourselves was helping create high quality office space at both The HQ and The Quad in Chesterfield.

About FI Real Estate Management


Emma Woodhall, Director, Learning Curve Group Hair and Beauty Academies

Emma Woodhall Learning Curve Landscape

“It’s been a great year for us; we were awarded Training Provider of the Year at the 2023 VTCT Awards. Looking to 2024 our aim is to support hundreds more learners in the region to achieve qualifications to succeed in the industry, training the next generation of beauty therapists and hairstylists! We are looking to build upon current relationships to retain talent within Chesterfield, and support local business.”

The businesses featured in this article support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Love Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , ,

Chair’s Blog: “It’s crucial we take full advantage of the opportunities that lay ahead in 2024 and beyond.”

2023 is ending, but there is no doubt that we go into the new year with optimism in Chesterfield. You will be aware that town centres across the UK need to adapt, and I am sure you will have heard about the projects to revitalise Chesterfield and Staveley’s high streets that are either happening behind the scenes or just beginning. Soon we will see this work taking place with our own eyes!

In Chesterfield town centre the £17 million project to refurbish the Council’s historic Stephenson Memorial Hall is underway. It will bring together an extended Pomegranate Theatre and modern Chesterfield Museum, alongside new gallery space, a café bar, and education and community facilities. By installing the latest technology and improving accessibility, we will ensure we can continue to attract the highest quality entertainment and culture to our town, adding to Chesterfield’s vibrancy as a visitor destination.

Stephenson Memorial Hall - Day

Starting in summer, the modernisation of our marketplace will begin. Plans involve creating a more defined, vibrant shopping zone with flexible space, better lighting, and digital connectivity. This will enable our town centre to host more events and activities, supporting both the market and the surrounding independent businesses. There will be new seating areas to encourage shoppers to stay longer and more trees will be planted for a greener town centre.

The connections between several key points in the town centre will also continue. You may have already seen some upgrades along Elder Way and Packers Row to make it more accessible. You will see more of this taking place in 2024, ensuring Chesterfield keeps its historic feel, but is fit for purpose going forward.

In Staveley, £6m will be spent on improved connectivity, lighting, more planting, space for an outdoor cinema and a landmark pavilion building, creating a more attractive place to visit and spend time.

Staveley town centre

These developments across our town centres are vital to ensuring their future. We all want to see our towns busy, full of people shopping, eating, drinking, and spending time with loved ones. We want to create quality jobs for local people and give businesses confidence that Chesterfield is an excellent destination to invest in.

We can all continue to play our part in this by shopping locally, using our local restaurants, cafes, leisure destinations and market stalls. There is so much happening this Christmas! It’s crucial we continue to back our town and ensure we take full advantage of the opportunities that lay ahead in 2024 and beyond.

Make the most of local shopping, events and activities taking place across Chesterfield throughout the festive period by visiting: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/christmas/

On behalf of the Destination Chesterfield board and team, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

town centre chesterfield market hall

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , ,

Fundraising boost for restoration of Chesterfield Canal

Chesterfield Canal Trust has announced a funding drive to create new community spaces alongside the canal in Staveley, and has received support from AVIVA.

The firm is supporting the Canal Trust’s appeal via its ‘Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund.’ As part of this, the Canal Trust has launched a Crowdfunding appeal and is encouraging people to help boost the area’s regeneration.

AVIVA will kick start the appeal with £500 and will give the Trust £2 for every £1 it raises, up to a maximum of £15,000. This means that if the Trust can raise £7,500, AVIVA will turn it into £23,000, or up to £24,500 with Gift Aid.

The appeal only lasts for six weeks, finishing on 19th December. See full details on the appeal and make a donation.

Restoration works will take place at Hartington. At present there is rough ground and steep slopes, but over the next 18 months a new Trans-Pennine Trail bridge and a new lock will be built, and the canal will be restored.

TPT bridge plans Chesterfield Canal Trust

The Trust wants to create a great canalside environment for people and wildlife around the new bridge, giving nature a head start and creating a suitable setting for the new lock which will be built early in 2025.

It needs to raise funds for 60 Trees (some semi-mature), 200 metres of hedging, 12 benches (including four wheelchair-accessible ones), native wildflowers, signs and information boards, accessible paths and landscaping works.

The new information boards will encourage people to learn about and help tackle climate change and the planting will take this into account.

Rod Auton, Secretary of Chesterfield Canal Trust commented: “Everyone I meet, from local dog-walkers to long distance cyclists, wants us to create proper, well-managed, and safe places to go and enjoy nature and meet friends etc. In return for your donations, we volunteers are committed to help manage these new spaces in future years for the free enjoyment of all.”

Find out more about the restoration of Chesterfield Canal, and other regeneration projects taking place in Staveley.

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

Chesterfield Canal Paddlespots

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

Trustees sought to drive forward Barrow Hill Memorial Hall refurbishment

Barrow Hill Community Trust is searching for new volunteer trustees to help support the delivery of a major project to refurbish Barrow Hill Memorial Hall.

The Trust is the community development charity for the village of Barrow Hill and surrounding neighbourhoods. With around £1.8 million of funding through the Staveley Town Deal and National Heritage Lottery Fund, the trust will be refurbishing the historic Memorial Hall to create a new community hub where local people can access a variety of essential support services and socialise together.

Simon Redding, Chair of the Barrow Hill Community Trust, said: “This is a really exciting time for the entire community, our ambitious plans will help create stronger connections in the community and ensure local residents can access the support they need.

“We’re looking for trustees who can spare some of their time to help steer the delivery of this project and ensure we can maximise the benefits for residents.”

The Trust is particularly keen to hear from potential trustees who have experience in capital project management, finance, or communications.

Barrow Hill Memorial Hall was gifted to the community in 1920 by Charles Paxton Markham as community war memorial that could be used to support the local community.

In 2024 it will be 100 years since the Deed of Trust was approved and to mark the centenary the Trust aims to refurbish the building to serve the community whilst honouring its legacy and past.

Plans for the refurbished hall are extensive including new community spaces, enhanced facilities for young people and children, provision for medical facilities, and classroom space.

Barrow Hill Community Trust recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equality, and challenges and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities.

Please e-mail info@barrowhill.community to express your interest.

For more information about the trust and the refurbishment of Barrow Hill Memorial Hall, visit: www.barrowhill.community

Find out more about the multi-million pound Town Deal projects set to transform Staveley and surrounding areas.

Barrow Hill Memorial Hall Image

Artist’s impression – Barrow Hall Memorial Hall refurbishment

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Plans for the regeneration of Staveley town centre released as additional funding confirmed

Revised proposals for the multi-million-pound regeneration of Staveley town centre have been released by Chesterfield Borough Council, following Government approval to allocate additional funding to the project.

The six-million-pound Staveley 21 project has been in development over the last year following publication of the Staveley Town Centre Vision Masterplan which received strong public support in November 2021.

The proposals – which are funded through the Staveley Town Deal – were shared at a meeting of Staveley Town Council on Tuesday night.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We know everyone has been keen to see the council’s proposals for Staveley town centre and I’m delighted that we are now able to share these. As a package the proposals seek to enhance the town centre – opening it up for new uses that will encourage more people to visit whilst also supporting existing retailers, market traders and high street businesses.”

A range of visuals have been prepared to bring the proposals to life with a particular focus on the new pavilion building and how the marketplace will look and could be used by different audiences.

Staveley Pavilion Building artist impression

The new pavilion building sits between the Staveley Miners Welfare building and Staveley High Street. Of modern design but one that is also reflective of Staveley’s heritage, the building will form a striking new focal point in the heart of the town centre. Several uses for the building are currently being considered including as a potential site for Derbyshire County Council’s relocation of Staveley library and also for retail, leisure, and business start-up uses.

As an enlarged public open space, the marketplace will be designed as a flexible environment to support existing uses such as Staveley Town Council’s regular markets but also as a setting that can be used to host a wide range of new events to encourage more people to visit the town centre.

Tiered outdoor seating will be introduced to support outdoor theatre and open-air cinema screenings, and play equipment installed to help make the marketplace more attractive to families.

New paving, lighting, street furniture and planting will help create an enhanced atmosphere and visitor experience at any time of day or night whilst new signage will help connect the town centre with Staveley’s other visitor attractions including the Chesterfield Canal and Staveley Hall.

Staveley town centre regeneration artist impression

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, continued: “Town centres across the country are changing and our proposals reflect this need to adapt. We have already secured a main contractor to deliver the project and our aim is to achieve planning permission in Spring 2024. In line with the Government’s requirements, we plan to be on site in Autumn 2024 and for all of the construction work to have been completed by the end of 2025.

“Ahead of this, we are committed to carrying out extensive engagement on the proposals to ensure that we capture the views of all stakeholders and make appropriate adjustments ahead of submitting the necessary planning application.”

“We’re also still seeking applications for the shop front grant scheme which we launched in February. A total sum of £600k is available to support shop owners and landlords to make improvements to their premises.”

Ivan Fomin, chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “The delivery of the Staveley 21 project is a big first step towards realising the Staveley Town Centre Vision Masterplan which received strong public support in November 2021. It’s exciting to see Chesterfield Borough Council move the project forward move into this next phase, which reflects the Staveley Town Deal Board’s vision and ambition for Staveley town centre. These are significant proposals which will ensure Staveley town centre is a place where local people and visitors will want to spend time whilst also supporting local businesses to grow not only now but in the future.”

Updates about the Staveley 21 project, details about drop-in sessions for residents and businesses, and information on the Shop Front Improvement Grant Scheme will be available on the council’s website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/staveley-21

Find out more about the Staveley Town Deal.

Chesterfield is perfectly located, with excellent transport links to enable your business to grow. To find out more about available opportunities in the area, go to our Invest in Chesterfield page.

Staveley town centre regeneration plans from above artist impression

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , , , ,

Chair’s blog: “Businesses certainly see strong benefits to investing and growing in Chesterfield”

Creating vibrant town centres continues to be a priority for Chesterfield.

Like all towns across the UK, we know we must evolve to attract more residents, workers, and visitors to spend time in our high streets.

At the beginning of summer, I wrote about many exciting festivals and events taking place locally. All encouraging you to make memories with your loved ones and to support our shops, eateries and leisure businesses.

This month, I am highlighting the successes of the new office spaces in Chesterfield town centre. Developments like these are bringing hundreds of new jobs to the heart of our town. Exactly what we need to increase the footfall from Monday to Friday.

The new offices are proving popular – thanks to their attractive location, as well as being energy efficient. In less than a year after its opening, the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre is now more than 80% full. Meanwhile, several more firms have expressed a strong interest in One Waterside Place, following the two floors that have already been snapped up.

Furthermore, it’s fantastic to see a full refurbishment now completed at The HQ. What used to be the Royal Mail offices – set adjacent to Queen’s Park – has been transformed into an exciting hub for businesses to thrive.

Quality office spaces continue to be promoted by Destination Chesterfield, with the next marketing campaign underway, targeting firms looking to relocate and grow. I’m pleased to say that almost 3,000 enquiries have been made over the past five years for business premises, keeping Chesterfield Borough Council’s economic development team very busy!

Businesses certainly see strong benefits to investing and growing in Chesterfield, with over 3,000 enterprises now operating here.

But we won’t stop there. It is Chesterfield’s aim to attract a further 100 higher value businesses by 2030, generating more higher wage jobs for local people. This will be complemented by new educational facilities in Staveley, giving people the chance to learn advanced skills in sectors such as construction and rail.

Looking ahead to October, the Chesterfield Investment Summit is a key annual event that allows us to showcase our strengths to inward investors and growing businesses. Returning to Casa Hotel on Wednesday 18th October, it will highlight the wide range of regeneration taking place across our area, whilst explaining the benefits of locating your business here.

This year’s event will focus on quality and sustainable housing, the Gateway at PEAK – which will be an exciting new visitor destination, and the latest progress on Chesterfield town centre’s upcoming £20 million transformation… I’ll be writing more about that in the next post!

As we look towards the future, I have no doubt that Chesterfield will continue to build on its strong foundations and thrive as a top destination for visitors and investors.

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Development, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

Property and construction businesses build talent pipelines through inspiring workshops and placements

In Chesterfield, £2billion of regeneration is underway. Additionally, a report by CITB, highlights by 2026 that 3,500 construction workers per year will be needed in the East Midlands Region. So, the need to attract more skilled people to the sector remains a key priority.

Recognising the range of exciting opportunities available across the sector and the need to develop a local talent pipeline; property and construction businesses from across Chesterfield joined forces to deliver Careers Made in Chesterfield.

This summer, 11 students from three Chesterfield secondary schools got to go behind the scenes at local firms to gain first-hand experience of careers in the sector.

Organised as part of the new Made in Chesterfield scheme, the work experience was the final part of a year-long pilot. The pilot included a series of workshops to showcase the range of careers available in the industry. In total, 20 professionals from 11 local businesses helped to deliver the programme to 110 year 10 students.

How did the students get on in their end-of-scheme placements? We spoke to some of the businesses and schools involved in showcasing careers in property and construction to the next cohort of future talent.


House designers in the making 

Wayne Barrett, Technical Director for Harron Homes North Midlands, tells us about the range of departments students got to experience:

“Harron endeavours to support those looking to develop their skills in the construction industry, whether that’s on-site or in the office. It’s been fantastic to support Chesterfield schools and give them an insight into working life within an office environment. Students experienced a range of roles from finance to quantity surveying, architecture, civil engineering, sales, and legal.”

Harron Homes property and construction

Harron Homes office

Nigel Kingham, teacher at Whittington Green School, explains how students went above and beyond:

“I got to visit three of our students on work experience at Harron Homes. Each of the students had with them examples of some of the design work they had completed during their placement. Max had been taught to use some design software and he had used this to produce his own plans for a newly designed house. He had really enjoyed his placement and was really enthused about house design.”

“Corey had drawn his own designs and kept an extensive diary of his time at Harron. Again, he was really positive about his experience. He even said it had got him thinking about a future career in something like architecture.”

Cory_Sketch 873x466 property and construction

Artwork by Cory, student at Whittington Green School

Max, student at Whittington Green School, added:

“I had a great time, and everyone was helpful with what I was trying to do!”


Building careers in property and construction

Students from Whittington Green and Parkside School got to experience all aspects of a local construction business. Jack Kidder, Business Manager at Henry Boot PLC, explained:

Henry Boot 873x466 property and construction

Henry Boot tour for students

“We were delighted to welcome two students from Whittington Green and Parkside Schools to join the business for a week. They learnt all about the real estate sector with a focus on construction and social value. They took part in a range of activities including estimating and education engagement, met a range of colleagues from across the business, and visited our Kangaroo Works scheme in the centre of Sheffield.

“Supporting work experience placements is a great way for us to inform local learners about the wide range of careers available in our business and industry as well as learn more about the expectations and aspirations of learners and create excitement about our sector.”

Liam, student at Parkside Community School, commented:

“I really enjoyed the placement at Henry Boot. I hadn’t really heard of them before, I didn’t know how big the company was. It was really interesting learning about the business and the things they do. But the best bit was going visit to the site at Sheffield!”


CGI and Virtual Reality

Oasis Studio 873x466 property and construction

Oasis Studio and Parkside student

Providing an insight into the digital process in the sector, Oasis Studio hosted a student from Parkside School. Tony Buck, Associate Director at Oasis Studio, said:

“We welcomed our placement student to the studio to gain hands-on experience as if he were a true member of the team.

“We exposed Seth to a variety of typical tasks carried out at Oasis Studio. Tasks included transforming 2D technical drawings into a 3D digital model of a building using the latest software and techniques. He used his 3D model to create various formats of visual content including photorealistic CGI’s, floorplans and a marketing brochure. Also, Seth contributed towards internal project meetings and got involved with development projects in Virtual Reality.

“Overall, this placement not only provided valuable experience for the student. It brought fresh perspectives and innovation to the business, reinforcing our commitment to nurturing young talent.”

Oasis Studio and Parkside student property and construction

Oasis Studio and Parkside student

Seth, student at Parkside Community School, added:

“I enjoyed my time at Oasis Studio. It was a really nice place, with a good atmosphere and the staff was great. I even had a go at designing buildings and adding renders using CAD (Computer Aided Design). It was a really good placement.”

Matthew Gould, Head of PE and Careers at Parkside Community School, commented on the Made in Chesterfield programme:

“It’s been a pleasure to be involved with the Careers Made in Chesterfield programme. Engagement from students in the workshops delivered at the school and work experience has been fantastic.

Three of our students have benefitted from a work placement thanks to local business. We’re grateful for the opportunity and hope to link more young talent with Chesterfield businesses.”


Find out more

Could your business benefit from encouraging young people to consider careers in property and construction?

To find out how your business could get involved with the next Careers Made in Chesterfield scheme, contact Emily Williams, Skills Delivery Officer at Chesterfield Borough Council on 01246 959717.

To consider how your business could offer an apprenticeship to support careers in property and construction visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/hiring-an-apprentice/.

Are you a business operating in the property, construction, manufacturing, and engineering industries? You could get involved with the Made in Chesterfield programme by opening your doors to local schools. Find out more at: www.chesterfield.co.uk/made/.

Careers Made in Chesterfield header image

Careers Made in Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Blog, Business, Made in ChesterfieldTagged in , , , , , , , , , , ,

Planning application submitted for major improvements to Clay Cross town centre

A planning application for major regeneration in Clay Cross town centre has now been submitted.

North East Derbyshire District Council and the Clay Cross Town Board have made progress over recent months, culminating in the planning application for the Town Centre Regeneration project.

The planning application has been submitted as part of the next steps in delivering the £24.1m Clay Cross Town Deal and is a momentous occasion as the reality of the project draws nearer for residents and businesses.

A public consultation was undertaken to gauge opinions of the proposed plans following on from ongoing face-to-face engagement with local businesses over the last few months. Feedback from this has been positive and has been taken into consideration as part of the ongoing project to help shape the future of Clay Cross.

The planning application is made up of four key elements in the proposals, which are:

  • The creation of a new Town Square which will become a public space to be used for markets, seasonal events and as a public forum.
  • Food and Beverage and Leisure Units – the route from Broadleys to the public square to be lined with artisan food companies, leisure operators and cafes and restaurants.
  • The Clocktower (Derbyshire Adult Education Centre) – to make the best use of the existing building, enhancing existing uses and bringing the library into the heart of the town.
  • The “Block A” (working title) proposal – Repurposing an existing historic building with the aim of providing a quality food and drink offering and leisure opportunities, directly overlooking the public square.

North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Clay Cross Town Deal, Cllr Jayne Barry said, “This is a momentous point in the delivery of the £24.1m Clay Cross Town Deal and a pivotal moment (in submitting the planning application) as our residents and businesses, who have shared their views and helped shape the proposals for the regeneration of the town, can now see we are moving onto the next stages of the project as it becomes closer to reality.

“It’s an exciting time for the town with some amazing plans and developments underway already, including the building of the new Clay Cross Active leisure centre, and I am delighted at the progress made to deliver this exciting project by collaborating with our residents and businesses.”

Find out more about the wide range of investment opportunities across Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

Clay Cross

Birds’ eye view of Clay Cross Town Centre

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Leisure, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Joint agents appointed for Chesterfield’s pivotal Elder Way scheme

Jomast has appointed FHP as official joint agents of Elder Way – a pivotal site in Chesterfield town centre which has been redeveloped by the leading regeneration specialist into leisure and retail units.

FHP is the dominant retail and leisure agent within the Midlands, with offices in Nottingham, Birmingham and Derby, and has won the EGi East Midlands Most Active Retail Agent award for the last 13 years.

FHP will now work alongside WSB Property to jointly market the Elder Way scheme nationally to potential occupiers.

There are currently a number of leasing opportunities available at the 21,761 sq ft scheme, from smaller E Class and Sui Generis Bar units of 1,420 sq. ft. upwards to larger units of up to 4,704 sq. ft.

Alan Pearson, Director and Head of the Retail and Leisure at FHP commented: “We are pleased to partner with WSB Property to introduce Elder Way to a wider audience across the East Midlands. The units are suitable for a variety of uses following the change of the use class order which opens this up to office and clinical use, alongside the traditional retail and leisure use.”

Jomast has transformed the former Co-op department store into a landmark mixed-use leisure scheme comprising seven street-level units and a 16,285 sq. ft. basement. The site is being marketed to food and drink, and gym operators as well as retailers.

Constructed in the 1930s, the site boasts a mock-Tudor frontage and is as renowned as the town’s crooked Spire church.

A Premier Inn hotel already occupies the upper two floors of the building where it has been successfully operating since 2019. Recently Premier Inn owner Whitbread reported that its first-quarter sales came in ahead of last year’s figures, supported by strong demand for travel and leisure and robust performance of its UK hotels.

Elder Way is one of the key developments within Chesterfield Borough Council’s £60 million Northern Gateway Scheme which includes and new multi-storey car park, completed in 2021 and an Enterprise Centre opened in 2022. The Enterprise Centre, which has 32 office suites is recording near 100% occupancy just 12 months after opening. Both the Enterprise Centre and Saltergate multi-storey are located within a two-minute walk of Elder Way.

Mark Hill, Commercial Property Director of Jomast added: “We’re committed to creating developments and regenerating properties that have a transformative effect on towns and cities and Elder Way embodies this. It is a pivotal site both in the town centre and the Northern Gateway scheme in Chesterfield.”

Find out more about the Chesterfield Elder Way development here. 

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

Chesterfield Elder Way

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , , ,

‘We want to continue our collaboration to achieve Chesterfield’s ambitious plans’ 

Destination Chesterfield Manager, Dom Stevens highlights how partnerships in both the public and private sectors continue to push forward the town’s extensive range of regeneration projects. 


I have spent this week at UKREiiF – the largest real estate and investment event in the UK, attracting over 6000 delegates from the public and private sectors. 

Team Chesterfield went to the event to share our ambitious new growth strategy with the property sector. 

It has been a busy week of meetings and events, discussing the opportunities in Chesterfield and raising awareness of the Borough. The true success will be known in the coming months and years, as we develop relationships alongside the continued progression of £2 billion worth of regeneration projects.  

One of the strands of the Chesterfield place story is creating connections. People tend to think of this as being about our excellent transport links, our supply chain, and our location next to the Peak District. 

It is much more than just that! 

Throughout history, Chesterfield has built positive relationships to bring forward growth and investment. We have a clear growth strategy, projects to deliver those ambitions and want to continue collaboration to achieve these ambitious plans. 

On Tuesday, Dr. Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council highlighted these ambitions, alongside the importance of strategic thinking and collaboration at a packed panel discussion in the Harworth Pavillion.  

huw bowen harworth UKReiiF

Later that day, Joe Battye, Director of Economy and Regeneration at Derbyshire County Council delivered a case study about the Staveley Growth Corridor, highlighting the role of two local authorities and the private sector to bring forward community-changing regeneration. 

Members of our Chesterfield Property and Construction Group came together to launch our new investment prospectus, and it was brilliant to catch up with so many of them over the week. 

You can view the prospectus here. 

It was also great to see Chesterfield highlighted in the Midlands Engineering Portfolio. The document included the transformation of our historic town centre, the £340 million Chesterfield Waterside scheme, and the forward-thinking masterplan for Chesterfield station. 

investment prospectus launch

A collective voice for the region is a huge opportunity that could be brought about by devolution in the East Midlands. A joint event organised by D2N2 LEP, Marketing Derby, Invest in Nottingham, and ourselves explored the opportunities. 

Will Morlidge, Chief Executive of D2N2 LEP highlighted that the deal would ‘move Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire into the Premier League.’ Meanwhile, Andy Dabbs, Chair of Chesterfield Property Group said the deal needs to embrace public and private sector collaboration, and pool expertise and resources to underpin long-term plans. He added: “It’s a real opportunity to change the perception of our region.”

devolution panel ukreiif

Chesterfield has a strong heritage of being inventive and delivering innovative approaches. From the first disposable nappies and the drills that made the Channel Tunnel, to being the proud home of railway innovator, George Stephenson! 

On Thursday, it was brilliant to hear Tarah Gear from Milligan, highlighting another innovative project in Chesterfield – The Gateway at Peak

The project is a pioneer in supporting the Peak District National Park and Chesterfield, in terms of the environment and social inclusion. It was particularly exciting to hear that brands which have already signed up are changing their approaches, to fit with the ethos of this exciting development. 

As Tarah told the panel, they want this development to have ‘a lasting legacy’ and be the ‘ancestor’ that future generations respect.

milligan panel ukreiif

In an increasingly noisy marketplace, ‘Team Chesterfield’ has articulated why our area is a wonderful place to live and work. However, don’t just take our word for it! As The Spectator reported this week, ‘A new property powerhouse is emerging’ in North Derbyshire.  

Thank you to the dedicated and driven partners who continue to work with us and support Destination Chesterfield in raising the profile of the town. Keep a look out for the Chesterfield Investment Summit which returns this October. Once again, the event promises to provide several exciting updates on Chesterfield’s vast regeneration opportunities. 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Noodle Bar to serve up a treat at Markham Vale

A brand-new drive-thru noodle bar is set to open at North Derbyshire’s Markham Vale development, next to J29A of the M1 motorway.

Planning permission has been granted for a Chopstix Noodle Bar which will occupy the final remaining plot in the services area at Markham Vale – one of the region’s flagship industrial schemes, attracting new businesses into the area and creating thousands of jobs.

The new drive-thru joins the likes of fish and chip restaurant Chesters and Gridserve, another new occupier set to open a state-of-the-art electrical vehicle charging station later this year.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, Councillor Tony King,  said: “It’s great that we’ve secured another employer bringing a further 20 full time equivalent service industry jobs to Markham Vale.

“We’re pleased that this phase of the scheme to establish a high-quality service stop at junction 29a is almost complete with Gridserve due to start work on building an electric charging forecourt later this year.

“Next we’ll be concentrating our efforts on securing new occupiers for the remaining development plots having just gained planning approval for the construction of four new industrial units on Enterprise Way.”

Richard Hinds, Senior Development Surveyor at Markam Vale property developer, HBD, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Chopstix to Markham Vale; it joins several drive-thru restaurants and facilities and will no doubt prove a popular addition to the scheme.”

Chopstix is part of the QFM Group – one of the UK’s leading franchise businesses. Founded almost 40 years ago, it has built success in recent years with growth across several brands including Costa Coffee, KFC and Taco Bell.

Markham Vale is one of the region’s most successful industrial and logistics schemes. Just 11 acres now remain for development, accommodating a further 190,000 square foot.

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

markham vale food outlets

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , ,

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