Devonshire Group

North Derbyshire’s Peak Village doubles site turnover in just three years

The organisation which runs the Peak Village retail park in Rowsley, near Chesterfield has reported major success at the centre in recent years.

In the past twelve months alone, Peak Village has welcomed 535,000 visitors through its gates and has now appointed new letting agents to capitalise on the centre’s recent growth.

Devonshire Property Group, part of the portfolio of Devonshire Group businesses, has appointed FHP Property Consultants to support with new lettings and lease renewal negotiations.

The new appointment follows strong 2023-24 performance at Peak Village with continued investment and proactive asset management from Devonshire Property Group delivering £8m in turnover for the financial year, up over £4m in the space of three years.

Amidst difficult trading conditions in the post-pandemic period, diversifying the centre’s offering, as well as delivering a mix of independent and high street brands, has also had a noted impact on footfall at the site, with over half a million people coming to sample what Peak Village has to offer.

In the last eight months alone, Peak Village has welcomed three new retailers to the centre, with Ashbourne-based premium lifestyle and country clothing and footwear retailer Henmores, local independent business Baxter & Co and artists and makers collective, The Derbyshire Makers all opening stores.

FHP will work with Devonshire Property Group to support the centre as it aims to continue evolving its retail and leisure mix to drive further footfall and attract local independent, luxury and national brands.

FHP has the largest dedicated retail and leisure team of any agents in the Midlands, and has claimed the EG award for “Most Active Retail Agent in the East Midlands” for 12 successive years and was ranked 5th nationally in 2023 for retail and leisure space transacted.

Katayune Jacquin, centre manager at Peak Village, added: “Devonshire Property Group is committed to bringing the most desirable, exciting and in-demand retailers to Peak Village. Working with FHP is a crucial part of our strategy for making the centre the go-to destination for both those from the region and the many tourists who visit Derbyshire every year. The past few years have been incredibly difficult for the retail industry, and I think it’s a testament to our resilience and approach to investment that Peak Village has not only been able to weather those storms but thrive.”

Tom Wragg, Associate Director at FHP said: “We are excited to be working with Devonshire Property Group in supporting the evolution of Peak Village and bringing premium retailer and leisure operators into the scheme alongside exciting independent and regional businesses. At FHP we pride ourselves in being a national agent with a regional presence which puts us in a prime position to attract the right mix of operators for Peak Village. We are already seeing strong levels of interest from high quality national retailers and look forward to building on that momentum.”

The Devonshire Group purchased Peak Village in 2021, with the aim of revitalising the centre by drawing on local expertise to enhance the site’s role in the economic and employment landscape of the Derbyshire Dales, as well as supporting the local community.

Significant investment since then – including ongoing work to transform the site’s central courtyard and Massarella conservatory to provide a modernised and more welcoming areas for customers – has enabled the site to continue improving and growing.

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

Peak Village Summer

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Digital Management company announces move to 100,000 sq ft Markham Vale warehouse

A warehouse totaling more than 100,000 sq. ft will soon be occupied by digital and information specialists, Restore Records Management.

Devonshire Property Group, part of the portfolio of Devonshire Group businesses, has successfully let its 102,515 sq ft Markham Vale warehouse following the agreement of a new letting at the development.

Restore Records Management has agreed to take the unit on a long-term lease. The move is part of a consolidation of properties, as it looks to move into newer, more efficient buildings. Restore expects to be operational at the new site later this spring.

Andrew Byrne, Property Development Director at Devonshire Property Group said: “Letting our property at Markham Vale is not only a really positive milestone for the scheme, but a testament to the site’s proposition and the quality of space on offer. Alongside Derbyshire County Council and HBD, we’re fully committed to ensuring that the site continues to generate value and quality job opportunities for the surrounding communities. Bringing another strong business in Restore Records Management to the site is part of our work to fulfil that promise.”

Nigel Dews, Managing Director at Restore Records Management said: “The entire facility, will be able to accommodate a staggering 1.4 million boxes, making it one of the biggest sites in our portfolio. We look forward to taking management of the site in the forthcoming weeks.”

The agents representing The Devonshire Group were Rebecca Schofield at Knight Frank and Stuart Waite, of CPP. Restore were represented by Cameron Frazer of Berrys.

Markham Vale, a joint venture partnership between HBD and Derbyshire County Council that began in 2006, has created more than 2,700 jobs across a wide range of sectors, including advanced manufacturing and logistics.

It is home to a range of businesses, including Bilstein Group, which manufactures and distributes automotive parts, Granger International, manufacturers of waterproof outdoor products and shoe care products, and Sterigenics, makers of sterile healthcare products.

With an excellent location and ideal connectivity to several major UK cities and airports, find out why Chesterfield is the perfect place to base your organisation: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

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

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Hartington Business Park already 66% let following recent launch to market

Hartington Business Park at Staveley, which completed a refurbishment in July, has already secured significant lettings since its launch to market in January this year.

Marketed by letting specialists Commercial Property Partners (CPP), alongside Knight Frank, on behalf of the Devonshire Property Group, interest to date in the brand new, terraced, industrial warehouse accommodation has been exceptionally strong, resulting in three of the units already snapped up with a fourth under offer – leaving just two available.

Ranging in size from 2,479 sq. ft up to 4,899 sq. ft, the units have been built to a shell specification allowing occupiers the flexibility to utilise the space for maximum business benefits. Office fit-out packages are also available from the landlord, if required.

The Hartington units, built with a steel portal frame and steel profile cladding, offer 6m clear height, secure concrete yards, EV charging points, full fibre broadband and ample parking spaces.

The Park is conveniently located on the northern edge of Staveley, five miles to the North East of Chesterfield. The site further benefits from easy access to the M1 via J30 and J29A, located just 3.5 miles and 2.5 miles away respectively.

CPP Senior Surveyor Max Pickering said: “Hartington Business Park has been built to a high specification and is in a great location for a range of commercial or industrial businesses looking to have a base in central Derbyshire.

“Its easy access to the M1 has garnered interest from a variety of would-be tenants and we are confident the remaining units will be occupied in the very near future.

“Its accessibility to a large skilled workforce within commuting distance of Chesterfield, Sheffield, Doncaster and Nottingham, has also been a strong pull for businesses looking to relocate.”

Commenting on the recent deals, Adam Mayfield, Property Development Surveyor at the Devonshire Property Group said, “We are delighted at the current appetite for Hartington Business Park, testament to a first-class build, fit out and premium location.

“Our thanks to the team at CPP for their support and expertise in securing the current deals and ongoing marketing.”

Find out more about locating your organisation in Chesterfield.

hartington business park

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Markham Vale extension to create 800 new jobs locally

An extension has been approved to build on the hugely successful Markham Vale business park, next to the M1 in Derbyshire.

Markham Vale was established as a joint venture between HBD and Derbyshire County Council back in 2006 and now hosts more than 2,700 jobs across a wide range of sectors, including advanced manufacturing and logistics.

Markham Vale is home to a range of business uses, including Daher Aerospace which is exporting monorail parts to Cairo, Grangers International which manufactures waterproof outdoor products and shoe care products, and Sterigenics, which makes sterile healthcare products.

Devonshire Property Group will continue its work with the commercial developer HBD at Markham Vale and hopes to create around 800 new jobs for local people, with a scheme that pays strong attention to its natural surroundings.

The project includes an extensive landscaping plan that makes the most of the site’s existing features, whilst protecting and improving the river corridor. Significant planting will include c. 5,700 new trees (including 2.15ha of new woodland planting), 3.7ha of new grassland habitat and two kilometres of new native hedgerow to screen the development and create areas of new habitat.

This creates a 10% improvement of biodiversity net gain over the existing ecology value, in excess of current policy.

The success of the existing business park has led to the site running out of space to accommodate large space users and without this new development, Markham Vale will have to turn away investment from the growing industrial and logistics sectors, who require large units at locations with good access to the motorway network.

The site itself comprises two non-protected agricultural fields, bounded by the M1 to the south and keeping a large separation distance between the business park and the village of Woodthorpe. The final design of the buildings will be in accordance with the established design code for Markham Vale, which fixes a limited palette of colours to minimise visual impact. All vehicular traffic will use the existing highway network to allow easy access to the motorway.

Andrew Byrne, speaking on behalf of Devonshire Property Group commented: “The extension to the business park at Markham Vale is expected to create up to 800 new jobs for local people at what is a very successful development already supporting 2700 jobs in a variety of sectors.

“We’ve put in place an extensive landscaping plan, which includes protecting and improving the river corridor, and extensive tree and hedgerow planting as well as a large area of grassland. We’re also working with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to improve the wildlife habitats on a nearby site that will result in an overall 10% net gain in biodiversity. This is a high-quality extension to a highly successful employment location, with the aim of making a real contribution to the strength of the local economy.”

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

Markham Vale Business Park

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New retailer open at North Derbyshire shopping destination

Derbyshire-based Coghlans’s Food and Wine Experience has become the latest retailer to open new stores at the revitalised Peak Village in Derbyshire.

Alongside its high quality selection of wines, champagne, and specialist foods, Coghlans will host an ongoing programme of events in its wine and food workshop. ‘Meet the Producers’ events, wine courses and team building events will bring individuals and groups up close to guest chefs as well as artisan food producers of premium quality cheese, honey, coffee and much more; while its wine workshops will include tastings, wine and food pairing, and insights into wine production.

The store opened in early November all ready for the Christmas season at Peak Village, which officially started on the weekend of 26/27 November.

The new store opening follows on from other openings over the past few months and more expected early in the new year. Since spring, the site has added Wild Olive, Lambs Cakes and Bakes, Garden World, Grape Tree and the new modern dining concept Chatsworth Kitchen, which have all proved popular with visitors and driven increased footfall.

Significant investment over the past 18 months has enabled Peak Village to continue growing following its purchase last year by the Devonshire Group, the company that represents the interests of the Devonshire family at nearby Chatsworth.

Situated in the village of Rowsley on the edge of the Peak District National Park, Peak Village hosts nearly 20 shops and employs between 80 and 100 people. Aiming to offer something different from traditional high streets and shopping malls, Peak Village actively welcomes independent retail brands and businesses with a strong local connection.

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

 

Coghlans Peak Shopping Village

All images credited to The Devonshire Group

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Kickstart Scheme Delivers Permanent Jobs For Young People on Chatsworth Estate

Young people on work placements at Chatsworth set up to address rising youth unemployment have praised the valuable experience with several now progressing into permanent roles.

The Devonshire Group created a number of six-month placements under the Kickstart scheme last year across the garden, catering, farmyard, textiles, collections and wider operations at its Chatsworth and Bolton Abbey Estates.

Now several of the young people who have completed their placements have been offered permanent jobs. The good news looks set to continue with further roles being offered to others due to complete their Kickstart placements over the coming weeks, while other candidates successfully used the experience as a launchpad into related employment elsewhere.

Kickstarters Beth Cartwright and Georgia Wilson, who have been taken on as Collections Assistants, found the placements were an invaluable experience.

Beth said: “I’ve really enjoyed my placement here at Chatsworth, I’ve learned lots about conservation and what goes into keeping a collection. This is something I never thought would be available to me and I’m thrilled to be staying on full time.”

Georgia added: “I have learnt so much about the work that goes into running and maintaining a heritage site such as Chatsworth. I am delighted to now have a job as a result of my placement, allowing me to continue working in a field I love, and gain new experience.”

Chatsworth’s Head of Textiles Susie Stokoe said: “ Kickstart has been a great way to bring young people into the workplace giving them the flexibility to work in positions they may not have originally thought of.”

Over in the Chatsworth Farmyard and Adventure Playground, Josh Nicholls will be joining as an apprentice and Jordan Henshaw now has a permanent job as Farmyard and Adventure Playground Assistant.

Melissa Underwood, Farmyard and Adventure Playground Manager, said: “Kickstart has been a great programme and it has been a pleasure to watch our Kickstarters grow in confidence and gain new skills in a variety of ways.”

Farmyard apprentice Josh said: “I’ve had lots of fantastic support from everyone at Chatsworth. I’m absolutely thrilled to be starting an apprenticeship and look forward to learning more about animal care.”

Jordan added: “I feel like I’ve learnt a lot. The placement has also improved my general agricultural knowledge and I enjoy sharing the farming story with visitors. I feel brilliant about gaining a permanent job and look forward to the start of lambing and the new season.”

With Sustainability such an important area for the Devonshire Group, Tom Hendry was keen to create a high quality placement for a young person in this area. Following a successful placement, Ella Thompson has now been offered a full time role.

She said:  “I knew I wanted a job where my work could contribute towards supporting the community or environment and that’s what sustainability is all about. I was happy that this placement allowed me to build experience and then continue into a permanent role, as I felt very welcomed here by colleagues. I hope to continue to become more confident and get involved in more sustainable initiatives.”

Nathan Fairhead, Talent and Training Coordinator, Devonshire Group, said: “We are thrilled at the progress of our Kickstarters and the attitude they have shown to working with us. They have thrown themselves into their placements, becoming valued members of their teams. We are very excited for how their experience with us will influence their careers, especially those who will remain with us.”

The Government’s Kickstart Scheme is open to young people aged 16 to 24 who are receiving Universal Credit, and at risk of long term unemployment.

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

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Katie Saunders joins Devonshire Group as People Director

Katie Saunders has been appointed as Group People Director at the Devonshire Group, the company that represents the interests, charities and businesses of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.

Having been operating at board level for the past 15 years in High Street retail and during 20 years in the motor industry, including Volkswagen UK and Audi UK, Katie Saunders joins the Devonshire Group with responsibility for more than 1400 employees spread across 65,000 acres at Chatsworth in Derbyshire, Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire, the Compton estate in Sussex, and Lismore in the Republic of Ireland.

Katie Saunders: “I’m genuinely excited by the challenge. My experience is very broad, which I think will be important given the Devonshire Group includes such a variety of businesses from visitor attractions, shops, restaurants and luxury accommodation to farming and forestry, and property development.

“Although there are many different job roles and responsibilities, it’s very clear that there is a strong, shared passion for the organisation and its values, at all levels. Part of my role will be to share my experience and expertise in Learning and Development, and particularly Management Development and Leadership, to enable everybody to make the very best of their skills and reach their full potential.”

“Some great work has been done to introduce young people and apprentices to the Devonshire Group through the Kickstart scheme and there’s more to come. To be an employer of choice we need to listen to our team and respond to their concerns so I’ll certainly be looking at issues like wellbeing and diversity to see what more we can do to further develop a modern, motivated and committed workforce.”

Brought up in Doncaster and now living in Chesterfield, Katie Saunders and her husband are frequent visitors to the Peak District and keen foodies. “We know Chatsworth well and often take walks across parts of the estate. For many years I’ve experienced first hand the professionalism, commitment and good humour of the people who work here – this really is my dream job,” she says.

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

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