UKREiiF

East Midlands set to shine at national economic development event

Regeneration across the East Midlands will be put under the spotlight at a major investment and infrastructure forum next month.

The UK’s premier economic development event, the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) is taking place this year from 21-23 May in Leeds.

UKREiiF aims to connect people, places and businesses to drive sustainable and inclusive investment – regenerating towns, cities and driving development – which in turn have a positive impact on communities, economic growth and prosperity.

Representatives from D2N2 LEP will be attending UKREiiF and will lead an interactive panel discussion on 22 May – ‘Focus on the East Midlands: our Time is NOW’.

During the panel session, delegates will hear directly from the new East Midlands Mayor, who will be confirmed once elections have taken place on Thursday 2nd May. Senior leaders from D2N2 LEP, East Midlands Freeport and the East Midlands Development Company will also outline investment and development opportunities in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, and explain how devolution is set to transform the East Midlands region.

With access to up to £4 billion funding to invest in skills, transport, homes and regeneration and decarbonisation, the East Midlands devolution deal represents a once in a generation opportunity for our new East Midlands Mayor to use their new powers and new funding to drive growth and prosperity across the region. Panellists will discuss major infrastructure investment propositions coming on stream in our region such as the East Midlands Investment Zone, the STEP Fusion programme and the East Midlands Hydrogen cluster.

Devolution Panellists sat at table on stage with full audience listening

Panel discussion on East Midlands Devolution at UKREiiF 2023

Panellists include:

  • The newly elected East Midlands Mayor*
  • Elizabeth Fagan CBE, Chair D2N2 LEP
  • Nora Senior CBE, Chair, East Midlands Freeport
  • Sir Chris Haworth, Chair, East Midlands Development Company

*The East Midlands Mayor will be elected on Thursday 2 May and will confirm attendance following the election

The panel will be chaired by independent broadcaster Geeta Pendse

D2N2 LEP Chair, Elizabeth Fagan CBE, said: “During the panel, I’m looking forward to discussing the wealth of investable propositions we have in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, such as the East Midlands Investment Zone, that will focus on advanced manufacturing and green industries. The Investment Zone will complement our region’s low carbon prowess in nuclear and hydrogen, in particular the STEP Fusion programme in North Nottinghamshire and our East Midlands Hydrogen Consortium, our unique inland hydrogen collaboration cluster. The East Midlands is on the cusp of a very exciting future and it’s vital that we seize the momentum that devolution brings to transform our region.”

East Midlands Freeport Chair, Nora Senior CBE, said: “We have been presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attract and drive investment, innovation, and green growth across the region with two landmark destinations offered by East Midlands Freeport and the new combined authority’s investment zones. This panel will be an excellent showcase for all that the East Midlands has to offer investors who are keen to harness the skills, expertise and manufacturing heritage we have on offer here in the heart of the country.”

The Chair of East Midlands Development Company , Sir Chris Haworth said: “This is a momentous year for the East Midlands. We are looking forward to working with the East Midlands Combined County Authority and Mayor. There are some hugely exciting opportunities in the region which is at the centre of an energy revolution with the emergence of STEP nuclear fusion. Later this year, the closure of Ratcliffe Power Station, which is the last coal fired power station in the UK, marks a significant moment in history and provides a key location for economic growth adjacent to East Midlands Parkway Station.”

Delegates representing Destination Chesterfield will be in attendance at the event, discussing the wide range of investment taking place across the town with fellow attendees.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “UKREiiF is an excellent opportunity to showcase our region, which we know has huge potential for investment and growth.

“Chesterfield has seen a significant amount of major regeneration over the past decade, with several multi-million-pound projects still coming forward.

“We look forward to seeing how devolution in the East Midlands will bring further growth to our town and surrounding areas – improving jobs, skills, infrastructure and quality of life for our people.”

Join the interactive panel session at UKREiiF to discuss how Team East Midlands is working together to unlock our region’s £4bn investment opportunity and create a brighter future for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The panel is free to attend for delegates attending UKREiiF.

Focus on the East Midlands: Our Time is NOW

To find out more about why Chesterfield is a perfect location to base your business, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

waterside place

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‘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. 

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Chesterfield bids for businesses with over a million sq ft of new commercial property

A new and ambitious growth strategy for Chesterfield, the largest town in Derbyshire best known for its industrial heritage, historic architecture and proximity to the Peak District, has today been shared with potential investors at UKREiiF, a major real estate and infrastructure investment event, as well as details of commercial property projects that will deliver more than a million square feet of new high-quality office and industrial space over the next two years.

Speaking at the event, Dr Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, said that Chesterfield was delivering consistent and sustainable business growth, and had seen interest in its commercial space increase from both local startups and companies considering relocation to the town since the pandemic lockdowns.

DR Huw Bowen UKREiiF Harworth Panel

Dr. Huw Bowen speaks on Harworth panel at UKREiiF

Data shared in Chesterfield’s growth strategy reveal that the town’s business population has grown by more than a fifth (21 per cent) in the last decade and created 2,000 new jobs, including 1,800 high-value roles in sectors such as advanced manufacturing and professional services. Chesterfield aims to attract a further 400 businesses and 2,000 more jobs to the town by 2030.

Chesterfield Borough Council is supporting, either through direct investment or public-private partnerships, a series of projects to provide high-quality commercial space for businesses. It has helped bring to market almost 300,000 square feet of modern office, industrial, manufacturing and logistics space since the start of 2022, and expects further new premises totalling more than one million square feet to become available by the middle of 2025.

Key commercial developments in the town include:

  • One Waterside Place: 35,000 square feet of Grade A office accommodation located within five minutes’ walk of Chesterfield’s mainline train station. The building provides high quality office space for larger businesses looking to relocate or expand. Opened in January 2023, two of the building’s six floors have already been taken by tenants.
  • Hartington Industrial Estate: a major industrial development in Staveley, an area of Chesterfield next to the M1 motorway. This project will create 800,000 square feet of new commercial floorspace, with multiple modern industrial and warehouse units measuring 20,000 square feet and more expected to become available in 2023.
  • Prospect Park: located just off the A61, the main road between Chesterfield and Sheffield, Prospect Park provides high-quality office space and plots for new advanced manufacturing, warehousing and distribution units ranging from 7,000 – 50,000 square feet.

Chesterfield has also earmarked several prime locations for new residential development as part of plans to build more than 4,000 new homes by 2035. The number of new homes built in the town has exceeded targets in the last three years, and data from Home.co.uk shows that residential properties in Chesterfield sell faster, on average, than in Sheffield, Nottingham and Derby.

Dr Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Chesterfield is delivering consistent and sustainable growth, and becoming a destination of choice for entrepreneurs, knowledge workers and investors seeking a compelling work-life alternative to big cities. Our investments in assets, infrastructure, and partnerships are fuelling the transition to a higher-skilled, higher-wage economy. Our indigenous business base is growing, and we’ve seen enquiries from companies considering relocation to Chesterfield rocket since the pandemic.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, comments: “Chesterfield is a great place to live, and now, an even better place to do business. We’re investing in high-quality commercial spaces, opening up opportunities for more high-quality homes, and creating an environment that nurtures both residents and entrepreneurs. With our strategic location, culture of invention and competitive cost base, Chesterfield is the perfect location for startups, scaleups, innovators and investors.”

Find out more at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

View the latest details around commercial property projects in Chesterfield in the latest Chesterfield Investment Prospectus here.

Chesterfield commercial property to be showcased

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Property and Construction firms to highlight key commercial opportunities in Chesterfield at UK’s largest trade show

Did you know that Chesterfield’s business population has grown by 21% over the past decade, with more commercial opportunities in Chesterfield on the way? A total of 2,000 new jobs have been created, including 1,800 high-value roles in sectors such as advanced manufacturing and professional services.

Chesterfield is continuing on its ambitious path. The town aims to attract a further 400 businesses and 2,000 more jobs by 2030. With this goal in mind, it is vital to spread the message about the area’s exciting regeneration plans and commercial opportunities.

Property and construction businesses across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire are highlighting the wide range of investment opportunities in our town at the UK’s largest trade show, UKREiiF. The event is taking place in Leeds from Tuesday 16th-Thursday 18th May 2023.

Delegates from the town will be highlighting our area’s key development sites in several panel discussions. Including the ‘Journey to Zero’ transport hub at the PEAK tourism destination.

They will speak to potential investors about the excellent strategic location of Chesterfield and the importance of transport infrastructure opening up major regeneration sites.

Furthermore, members from Chesterfield’s Property & Construction Group will fly the flag for our town at the event. Businesses will be making attendees aware of the various projects which they are working on. Firms will also support Destination Chesterfield in spreading  the message of the area’s exciting commercial opportunities.

Find out more below on how firms will be Championing Chesterfield at UKREiiF 2023.

Whittam Cox Architects

Andrew Dabbs

A panel discussion at UKREiiF will outline the potential benefits of a devolution deal for Chesterfield and the wider region. The panel will include Chesterfield Property and Construction Group chair, Andy Dabbs, who is also a director at Whittam Cox Architects.

In addition, delegates will have the opportunity to discuss how the private sector can complement and enhance the newest and largest devolution deal in England. The deal is set to leverage at least £38m per year over 30 years.

Andy commented: “I’m very pleased to be collaborating with D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and showcasing Chesterfield’s portfolio of investment opportunities.”

“Our town possesses a strong relationship between the public and private sector. This is continuing to bring forward an impressive pipeline of regeneration and economic growth.

“The East Midlands Devolution deal will ensure more funding for our region, and further promote Chesterfield as an ideal place to invest.”

Wilmott Dixon Construction Ltd.

Jenna Frudd Wilmott Dixon - highlighting commercial opportunities at UKREiiF

Jenna Frudd, Business & Relationship Manager at Wilmott Dixon commented: “I’m thrilled to be attending this year’s UKREIIF and supporting the fantastic work being done in the development of Chesterfield.

“The town is a prime example of a ‘hidden gem’ town. It’s incredibly welcoming and has a local council and business community that is open to conversations.

“What’s great about UKREIIF is that it provides a fantastic opportunity to attract further investment. With all towns, there needs to be promise of change and excitement of active projects bubbling under in order to help it truly thrive. There is absolutely that happening in Chesterfield.”

FI Real Estate Management Ltd.

The HQ Chesterfield

The team at FI Real Estate Management is highlighting one of the key commercial opportunities in Chesterfield, The HQ.

Dominic Knowles, Head of Offices at FI Real Estate Management said: “Our colleagues attending UKREiff will be networking with business members and leaders at the event, promoting our recent £2m investment at The HQ and discussing the benefits of enhancing investment opportunities for the Chesterfield business community.

“We are passionate about putting Chesterfield on the map as a great place to work by providing Grade A office facilities. This improves Chesterfield’s business prospects, offering workspace fit to rival that of neighbouring cities. In addition, it makes the market town the first choice for future businesses looking to invest.

“Since our investment in the market town began in 2019, we have witnessed significant further investment in Chesterfield. This has had a positive impact on the local business community. It is extremely important for us to draw on our experience in Chesterfield so far, and share this with other business leaders.”

Harworth Group

Investment Chesterfield Harworth Group - Highlighting commercial opportunities at UKREiiF

Joanne Neville, Regional Head of Planning at Harworth Group commented: “Harworth is one of the leading land and property regeneration companies in the UK. The company manages over 13,000 acres across around 100 sites in the North of England and the Midlands.

“Harworth sites serve as exemplars of successful large-scale regeneration, with the business working alongside a range of partners. This also includes part of the allocated Staveley Works site in Chesterfield. 600 new homes are proposed for the site, with a planning application currently pending consideration.

“The Harworth team are always looking for exciting new investment opportunities for acquisitions and partnerships. Harworth will be returning to UKREiiF in 2023 with an even bigger delegation and exhibition space. Join them at the Harworth Regeneration Pavilion (Pavilion 7) for an extensive programme of thought-provoking panel sessions. Additionally, the company will host regional showcases and networking events, with some of the industry’s leading experts.”

Inspire Design & Development Ltd.

Gemma Inspire Design & Development - Chesterfield Champions

Colleagues at Inspire Design & Development Ltd. are excited to be attending this year’s showcase, which they believe promises to be even bigger and better.

Gemma Brewster, Commercial Executive commented: “At Inspire we are passionate about inspiring great places for people to live, work and play. A key part of our strategic approach to achieve this is collaboration. During the three-day event, we will be attending a number of fringe events in the city and holding meetings with new and existing connections.

“Not only will we be discussing future opportunities and building upon those relationships, but we will also be helping to raise the profile of Chesterfield by promoting our current projects in the area such as PEAK.

“We may be slightly biased, but we are very excited about the progress of this development as we feel Peak has the potential to dramatically increase the towns tourism offer which will help boost the Chesterfield economy and showcase the town. We are excited to see how the project evolves over the coming years.

Chesterfield Borough Council offers a free, efficient service to help you find the perfect premises for your business. Find out more about the range of available commercial opportunities in Chesterfield here.

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

Chair’s blog: “Chesterfield is still moving forward with confidence and optimism”

In the face of national and global economic challenges, Chesterfield is once again forging its own path.

Like so many times before, our town is rolling up its sleeves and making change happen for the better. We’ve seen many developments come to fruition over the last couple of years and as a result sites which were previously derelict are now full of life.

New offices at Chesterfield Waterside and the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre are already attracting investment and creating jobs for people in our town. There are already 90 people working within the Waterside Offices, and the Enterprise centre is now more than 60% occupied.

News of the extension to the Markham Vale North Industrial development, located at Junction 29a just off the M1 is another boost for our area. To date, Markham Vale has created more than 2,700 jobs, with potentially 800 more on the way thanks to the additional development plots.

Whilst we are all aware that Chesterfield is on the up, we must keep shouting about this as a collective. With a view to maintaining this progress I am excited to see Destination Chesterfield taking the town’s message to the UK’s biggest trade and investment show this May, UKREiiF.

Working alongside Chesterfield Borough Council and businesses in the town’s Property and Construction Group, we will be speaking to colleagues from across the country, helping to explain the wide range of benefits Chesterfield has to offer to inward investors and occupiers.

We’ll make investors aware of our illustrious history of innovation, and our fantastic connectivity and transport links. The fact that you can be in several major cities within just a couple of hours is a huge selling point; one which many other places are quite rightly jealous of!

It’s not just messaging around our town’s range of development sites and commercial workspaces which will be on display.

We will also shout about the fantastic quality of life here in Chesterfield, including our emerging food, drink and leisure offering. There has also been significant new housing delivery in the town over the past few years, which will also appeal to potential occupiers.

The fact that we’re so close to the world-famous Peak District National Park has already attracted major investment – including the £300 million PEAK development, which continues to progress.

Attracting further investment to Chesterfield remains a priority because it benefits everyone connected to the town.

It means more money in the pockets of our residents thanks to the creation of quality jobs, and naturally this leads to more money spent in our independent businesses, helping our economy to grow further.

Whilst we are all understandably concerned by recent reports about the state of the UK’s economy, I am pleased to say that Chesterfield is still moving forward with confidence and optimism – and shows no signs of stopping.

 

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

Panel session at major UK trade show to shine a light on the huge potential of devolution for our region

The huge potential of devolution for Chesterfield and the wider East Midlands region will be showcased at a major UK trade event this May.

D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is leading a panel session at the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiif) 2023 in Leeds, to discuss upcoming devolution in the East Midlands for businesses and investors.

The D2N2 region, covering Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, has a proud industrial and manufacturing track record and is at the forefront of economic development, with the East Midlands Freeport and the East Midlands Development Company recently established.

The region is on track to become the home of the UK’s newest and largest combined authority in 2024. The D2N2 area sits in the heart of the country and is very well connected, and benefits from proximity to infrastructure assets such as East Midlands Airport, the M1 and fast rail links, and its central location means that almost 90% of the UK is accessible within a four hour drive.

The panel session will provide the opportunity for delegates to hear from speakers representing D2N2 LEP, the East Midlands Development Company and key businesses in the region, who will share their insights on the benefits and opportunities devolution will bring to the East Midlands.

Delegates will have the opportunity to get involved in the discussion about what the private sector can bring to complement and enhance the newest and largest devolution deal in England, set to leverage at least £38m per year over 30 years.

The panel session will be chaired by Nicolle Ndiweni, Inward Investment and Business Expansion Specialist, Invest in Nottingham, and the panel of speakers will include:

• Will Morlidge – Chief Executive, D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership
• Andrew Roberts – Regional Head of Acquisitions, Yorkshire & Central, Harworth Group
• Andy Dabbs – Board Director, Whittam Cox Architects
• Sir Chris Haworth – Chairman, East Midlands Development Company
• Ellie Hinds – Business Development Manager, Scape Group
• Steve Wooler – Chief Executive, BWB

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “We are very excited to be collaborating with D2N2 LEP, Marketing Derby and Invest in Nottingham to showcase the exciting opportunities to invest in the region. One of the region’s many strengths is the effective collaboration between the public and private sector to drive forward sustainable economic growth. The panel session at UKREiif will showcase this work, and how you can get involved in the future.”

Will Morlidge, Chief Executive of D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) commented: “We are delighted to host this panel session at UKREiif. The East Midlands devolution deal is not just about driving more funding from the Government into our region: it is also a very clear signal from Government that the East Midlands is the vibrant industrial heart of the UK and is a great place to invest. Together with the rest of the panel, I am really looking forward to discussing the unique opportunities that devolution will unlock for businesses and investors in the region and beyond.”

John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, added: “As well as championing Derby and Derbyshire, we also regularly collaborate with our partners on projects that benefit the wider region, such as the East Midlands devolution deal, which we are fully behind. Over the years, we have achieved some notable successes, attracting major companies, both national and international, bringing thousands of new jobs to this part of the world and we are excited about the huge potential to do so going forward.”

Lorraine Baggs, Head of Investment at Invest in Nottingham said: “The East Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority presents a fantastic opportunity for our region to combine our strengths. Nottingham’s two world-class Universities provide exceptional talent to our strong industries. We’re experiencing more development in Nottingham than ever before with countless cranes in the sky, and two transformational city centre sites in the Broad Marsh and The Island Quarter. The devolution deal will bring more investment into our growing region.”

Places for the session are open to those registered to attend UKREiif and can be booked here.

Chesterfield Crooked Spire view

Image courtesy of Derbyshire Economic Partnership

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

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