visiting chesterfield

Chesterfield’s Tapton Lock Festival announces exciting 10th anniversary plans

It has been revealed that Chesterfield’s Tapton Lock Festival is set for a return this September, with exciting plans in place to mark its 10th anniversary.

Over the weekend on the 10th and 11th September, the banks of the Chesterfield Canal will come alive with outdoor theatre, music and dance, arts and crafts workshops, stalls, a climbing wall, ‘’have a go’ canoes, boat rides and much more.

To mark this special birthday, organisers Junction Arts and Derbyshire County Council’s Countryside Service have invited the Chesterfield BME Forum to showcase a number of special multi-cultural performances.

More information will follow, but the team has already confirmed that on Saturday 10th September a performance of Ukranian music and dance by the Hoverla Dance Ensemble will take place, meanwhile visitors can enjoy a spectacular Chinese Lion Dance on Sunday 11th September.

Jane Wells, Project Coordinator at Junction Arts commented: “We’re absolutely thrilled! This is a huge milestone for us, to have been able to make the festival happen for 10 years is such an achievement and we feel really proud. We have to work very hard all year round to fundraise for the event as it’s our number one priority that the festival is free, so that no one is  excluded from attending on financial grounds. We want this to be a festival for everyone to enjoy.”

Speaking on the range of multicultural performances taking place at this year’s event, Jane stressed how important it was for the festival to be inclusive of people from all backgrounds: “The festival is well attended but we noticed that our visitor demographic wasn’t representative of the cultural mix of Chesterfield and surrounding area.

“As a first step, we invited members of the Chesterfield BME Forum to have a stand at last year’s festival and it proved to be really successful. The 10th Anniversary  seemed to be the perfect moment to do more so we applied to the National Lottery for funding and were successful. The grant will support four local groups to attend and showcase their cultures, including some incredible music and dance performances, amazing food tasting from around the world plus displays and information. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the  National Lottery players for their support.

Jane also commented on why bringing the community together in celebration was of high importance to the charity: “The mainstay of our work is to build stronger communities through the arts and The Tapton Lock Festival does this in bucket loads! We deliver the event in partnership with DCC Countryside Service and the aim of the festival is to raise awareness of the area along the Chesterfield Canal and the network or footpaths and cycleways to encourage people to spend more time in nature with family and friends becoming healthier and happier.

“Another way the festival brings communities together is through the school outreach we do.  Each year we work with a local school, this year St Mary’s Catholic Primary School. The year 5 pupils visited the canal last week to learn all about the flora and fauna of the canal with a countryside ranger, they also had a boat ride!

“In September, Junction Arts will go into school and work with the children to create artwork that will be displayed at the festival. So, I hope you can see how the festival brings people of all ages and from all backgrounds together, to celebrate this beautiful part of town in a safe, inspiring and creative environment.”

The event takes place around the Tapton Lock Visitor Centre from 11:00am until 4.00pm on both days and entry to the festival is free. Find out more here.

Junction Arts 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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“Chesterfield has the raw ingredients to become a great place to visit”

Chesterfield is set to undergo a major transformation in the next few years, with work taking place to improve the town’s public spaces; creating a welcoming and attractive place for visitors.

The town’s Property and Construction Group continues to help in shaping these developments, working with partners to ensure the quality of the built environment across the town meets those ambitions.

Tony Buck is a member of the Chesterfield Property and Construction Steering Group and Associate Director at Oasis Studio. He has given his views on the importance of maximising the built environment, to increase Chesterfield’s reputation as a vibrant and welcoming town with a strong and diverse visitor economy.

By many Chesterfield isn’t considered a typical tourist destination and we must ask ourselves why? Over the last 12 years, I’ve become very familiar with the town and it’s clear our town has bags of raw ingredients to offer the tourism sector.

It’s no secret that millions of pounds worth of investment are beginning to take shape across the town and I’m confident these exciting plans will evolve Chesterfield into a superb visitor destination. From working closely with Destination Chesterfield and the Property and Construction Group it’s clear that attracting more tourists to the town is high on the agenda.

Let’s take a dive into some of the key developments and unpack why the built environment is vital in terms of attracting more visitors.

A good place to start is the ‘Heart of Chesterfield’ project; a major transformation in the town centre with refurbishment plans for several key sites. When I think about Chesterfield, I think ‘handsome market town’ so I’m particularly excited to see the marketplace revamp take shape.

This is a great opportunity to re-imagine the current model and create a more defined and vibrant area for visitors to shop. As part of the revamp, we’ll also see the flexible space host other events such as festivals, cultural celebrations, and community gatherings.

This has been core to the strategy and acts as a key ingredient in attracting a wider, more diverse audience beyond the typical market visitor of today. Once complete I look forward to visiting and hope to discover amazing produce, street food, craft beers and gifts that are unique to Chesterfield and add to the cultural narrative of the town.

Bookending of the ‘Heart of Chesterfield’ project are plans to remodel and refurbish the Stephenson Memorial Hall. I’m particularly intrigued about the impact this will have on the visiting economy. Packed full of history and architectural merit the proposals aim to extend the Pomegranate Theatre and provide a modern museum offering.

Alongside this gallery and café spaces provide visitors with a place to enjoy. Once complete this landmark building will extend the town’s cultural offering and provide a go-to destination for visitors to enjoy live events.

Beyond this, the Chesterfield Station Masterplan aims to create a welcoming first impression of Chesterfield for visitors by rail. Currently, the existing station and public realm are a little uninviting.

Diving into the details it’s clear that a real sense of arrival, framing of the crooked spire and progressive urban design are considerations to address this. The people of Chesterfield are welcoming and open for business, I certainly look forward to a station that reflects this for visitors.

It’s clear to me that the developments highlighted above, combined with the wider regeneration proposals, will result in our town centre becoming a more attractive, safe and healthier place for visitors to spend time and immerse themselves in the Chesterfield economy.

In my opinion, Chesterfield’s best tourist attraction and visitor playground is the Peak District. It’s located on our doorstep and attracts millions of tourists to the area each year.

Those visitors planning a weekend trip or holiday need more incentives to stay the night in Chesterfield. Currently, the night-time attractions are relatively limited… Shout-out to Ches-Vegas. To maximise the visitor economy, more must be done to increase this offering. There are development plans that seek to address this (some mentioned above), but it’s worth highlighting the requirement for more available hotel space for visitors to stay.

Circling back, Chesterfield has the raw ingredients to become a great place to visit. The community is inviting and we’re home to a diverse selection of businesses that cater for the tourism sector.

We’re located in the heart of the UK with great transport connections. We also have handsome buildings with bags of history and so much beautiful scenery on its doorstep. Chesterfield is underrated as a tourist destination and with the planned future investment it will only get better. I call for all local businesses and fellow Chesterfield Champions in the town to celebrate this!

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

New bar and coffee shop open in Chesterfield town centre

Chesterfield is welcoming yet another new addition to the historic town centre, with The Empire Bar & Coffee Shop opening up on St Mary’s Gate.

The new business offers a range of draught and bottled beer and cider, wine, fresh cocktails, fresh bean barista coffee and various hot and cold drinks.

It officially opened it’s doors at the beginning of June and is situated over two floors with an additional outside seating area.

All hot drinks can be made with plant based products including almond, soya, oat and coconut milk. The Hot Chocolate is also vegetarian and vegan friendly.

Offers throughout the week, paired with the ever-friendly welcome from owners Simon Chidlow and Carlton Francis make Empire a unique experience. Not only is Empire child and dog friendly until 6pm daily, but the accommodating hosts want everyone to feel welcomed and accepted, offering BSL (British Sign Language) for a number of its already growing customers.

The owners stated: “Whether you’re looking for entertainment for all ages, affordable drinks or a space to host a small gathering or your next corporate event in our comfy upstairs area, you can rest assured that Empire will always try to accommodate.”

Since opening, the pair have welcomed back customers on numerous occasions, which demonstrates the warm and friendly appeal that drew them in on their first visit. With owner Simon growing up in Chesterfield, he says: “After COVID, everyone is eager to get back to normality, and we are excited to provide a space where people feel comfortable to do so!

“Local businesses bring with them a support for developing the local area and ultimately in supporting them, our customers are continuing to drive development in Chesterfield.

“Our aim is to support and work together with local independent businesses to help us all make a success and thrive.

“We have teamed up with Totally Cheesecakes and Bakes based in Clay Cross to offer locally made individual cheesecakes and this is the beginning of the food options available to come in the near future.”

Information on the offers and entertainment available can be found on Google, or Facebook and Instagram under @barempirechesterfield.

There are so many great restaurants, coffee shops and tea rooms, pubs and bars – you’ll be spoilt for choice when eating out in Chesterfield. Find out more about the town’s unique food and drink offer here.

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

Chatsworth opens new dining experience in North Derbyshire

Chatsworth has announced the opening of a new daytime dining offer, located at the Peak Shopping Village in Derbyshire.

An original oak table from the Victorian kitchen at Chatsworth takes centre stage in the contemporary daytime dining offer opening in the village of Rowsley, on the edge of the Peak District.

Located within the retail and leisure offering at Peak Village, Chatsworth Kitchen celebrates quality, seasonal dishes sourced from the estate and a community of farmers, producers and makers from across the Derbyshire Dales.

With a bespoke interior featuring hundreds of items from the stores and kitchens at Chatsworth, the new food and retail concept provides a relaxed and welcoming place to enjoy delicious, fresh food selected daily from the estate’s farms and gardens.

The launch menu showcases the best of local produce from Chatsworth Gin cured salmon with capers and sherry vinegar shallots, to marinated estate beef with roasted cherry tomato and herb couscous, and Chatsworth lamb cutlets with fig, goats cheese and spinach salad. Deli plates offer a choice of flatbreads baked fresh in the bread oven or a seasonal baked tart and fresh salads while popular children’s dishes will be updated regularly.

The majority of the food is made on site, while the freshly baked pastries and dessert items will be created under the watchful eye of Chatsworth’s experienced pastry chef in the stables kitchen by the house.

Alongside the dining experience, a thoughtfully curated retail offer of more than 300 items of quality food, drink, kitchen and homewares is available.

Working closely with retail consultant Lady Burlington and the Chatsworth team, Sheffield based design agencies Whitehead Commercial and 93 have created an interior that effortlessly blends heritage artefacts with a modern and fresh approach.

Lady Burlington said: “We were inspired by the old kitchen at Chatsworth, and have brought a variety of pots, pans and artefacts from Chatsworth to the restaurant. Sustainability and authenticity have been central to this project; we have reused and repurposed items including chairs, doors and panelling, with many of the tables made from reclaimed flooring from the estate.

“Chatsworth Kitchen celebrates local produce, suppliers and makers, and we hope it will become a place for people to spend time together and enjoy great food, before exploring the many new shops opening at Peak Village.

“The Peak District has a wealth of wonderful produce and passionate, talented craftspeople, and we look forward to doing our part to support these businesses; from established names like David Mellor, who has provided stoneware and cutlery, to our candle maker in Barlow and young talents like potter Joe Heath working on the Chatsworth Estate.”

With indoor and outdoor seating, the Chatsworth Kitchen can seat 130 people, and is open from 9.30am – 5.00pm daily, seven days a week. The new venture has also seen the creation of several full-time jobs, as well as casual short-term work and opportunities for career progression for existing employees.

Chatsworth’s Head of Catering, Chris Bailey-Jones, said: “Food is at the heart of the Chatsworth Estate and therefore it should be no surprise that at Chatsworth Kitchen, estate reared and grown produce is celebrated in every dish.
“The menu looks to build on emerging food trends while never losing sight of the importance of local, seasonal and sustainable food that showcases Chatsworth, Derbyshire and indeed the wider country.

“The restaurant will give a distinctly Chatsworth twist to great service, being informal, fun and even a little quirky. All of this is helped along with a carefully crafted drinks list, looking to shine a light on local providers in a setting that is perfect for a relaxed lunch with friends or a family get together.”

With centuries of heritage in growing, harvesting, cooking and making, Chatsworth Kitchen builds on the estate’s past with an outlook to the future, supporting local producers, with a mindful approach to the environment and sustainability.

Chatsworth Kitchen is part of a long-term investment and development plan for Peak Village, which was purchased in 2021 by The Devonshire Group, the company that represents the interests of the Devonshire family at nearby Chatsworth. Aiming to offer something different from traditional high streets and shopping centres, and welcoming local businesses and national brands, Peak Village is on track to become one of Derbyshire’s leading retail and leisure destinations.

Chatsworth 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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Visitors and families to enjoy medieval fun day in Chesterfield town centre

Visitors to Chesterfield town centre will be able to have fun family day out themed around the Middle Ages, as the Medieval Fun Day returns.

The popular town centre event organised by Chesterfield Borough Council will return on Tuesday 26 July from 10am to 5pm. There will be lots of activities for the whole family to enjoy including a fun fair, stalls in the market and medieval re-enactors.

Ian Waller, Chesterfield Borough Council’s service director – leisure, culture and community wellbeing, said: “Chesterfield Medieval Fun Day is a really popular event and always draws large crowds to the town centre. It’s fantastic that we can finally bring this event back this year, it’s a fun day out for the whole family and a great opportunity to learn about our town’s medieval past.”

The popular Thomas Stanley Retinue reenactors group will be setting up their encampment in the grounds of the Crooked Spire. You’ll be able to find out more about life as a knight in the medieval period and they will be arming the knight, re-enacting skirmishes and marching through the town to the Market Place in full costume.

The dragon that battled with a Knight in the town centre in 2019 will be making a comeback and entertaining audiences in the Market Place.

A Medieval Surgeon will be on Burlington Street to give you all the details about grisly medieval medicine including common diseases, surgical procedures such as trepanning and amputation – he’ll even be bringing along his own leeches.

The Medieval Maniax will bring their hilarious show to Chesterfield, filled with mind-boggling tricks contortions and laugh-out-loud jokes.

For a charge Tower Tours will be available at the Crooked Spire. There will also be a Hunt the Sprite trail where families can search the Church for Sprites, which are a supernatural creature from Medieval folklore.

Members of the council’s museum team will be on Burlington Street and you will be able to learn more about Medieval life, dress up in medieval costume and create some medieval crafts.

The day also features appearances from walkabout characters including the Damsels in Distress, Goblins and other Medieval characters.

There will also be prizes available for the best dressed trader. Stalls can be booked by traders, charities and community groups on the council’s website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/markettrading

The Medieval Fun Day was last held in July 2019, it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021.

Full details of the event, including timings, will be available on the Visit Chesterfield website: www.visitchesterfield.info/medieval

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Vicar Lane encourages Chesterfield shoppers to donate to Ukraine appeal

Vicar Lane is making a fresh request for public support as it launches its second push to donate essential items to Ukraine.

Shoppers exceeded expectations earlier this spring when they were first asked to make donations in response to the war in Ukraine. The centre was overwhelmed by the generosity of Chesterfield public to the call for help.

Brandon Howard, Centre Administrator at Vicar Lane said, “We were overwhelmed by the quick response and generosity of our local community. The centre management office became a drop-off point for the items, and was completely full by the end of week one!”

Vicar Lane tenants participated in the effort too, with shoe retailer Deichmann providing shoe boxes which were made up into packs containing essential items for the war-torn country. New Look, The Works and Clarissa’s Interiors also made generous donations.

With the help of local members of the community and the Annunciation Roman Catholic Church in Chesterfield all the items made their way to Ukraine via a lengthy lorry-journey though Poland.

“We know that shoppers were keen to play their part earlier this year so we are sure that our second  campaign will be just as successful. A big thanks to everyone who donated previously and to those that will donate this time around,” said Brandon Howard.

People are being asked to make particular types of donations so that the most useful items are donated. Tinned foods and non-perishables, cosmetics and hygiene products will make the biggest difference.

Items can be dropped off at the management suite (opposite Iceland) up until 29th June.

Based in the heart of Chesterfield, Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is  home to a range of popular high-street retailers and a mix of unique independent stores. Find out more here.

Vicar Lane 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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Successful Dronfield Arts Festival to return in 2023

The popular Dronfield Arts Festival has once again been hailed a success, with people across the community enjoying a weekend of music, poetry, theatre, art, dance and much more.

Organised by Dronfield Heriatage Trust and Dronfield Hall Barn, the festival took place between 29th April and 1st May 2022, and included more than 60 events offering a fantastic mix of some of the best regional and national arts.

Now, the organisers of the festival have already confirmed the dates for it’s return next year, taking place from 6th-9th July 2023.

Sam Reavey, Creative Manager at Dronfield Heritage Trust commented: “What a wonderful Arts Festival we had this May. After a two year break, it was great to finally be back. It has been a tough couple of years for everybody and what a wonderful sight it was to see so many people attend our festival over the 3 days.

“There was something for everyone, music, dancing, art, comedy, vintage cars, fire and chainsaws. The Festival will be back next year, so please keep checking social media for confirmed dates and acts throughout the year. We’ll see you next year.

“The Festival is the highlight of the Barn’s year. It is our biggest event which not only happens at the Barn, but around Dronfield in local pubs like the Green Dragon and other venues such as the Peel and Civic Centres. All the entertainments are only made possible by our communities continued support of the event and the Arts Festival team cannot thank them enough.

This September the Dronfield Hall Barn will be hosting a Victorian themed weekend. There will be a mix of traditional fairground favourites, entertainers and stalls. Dress up is encouraged. It has been confirmed visitors will benefit from free entry to the event.

Find out more about the Dronfield Arts Festival and the wider activity at Dronfield Hall barn via the following links: https://dronfieldhallbarn.org/ and https://dronfieldartsfestival.co.uk/

Dronfield Arts Festival and Dronfield Heritage Trust support 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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Pomegranate Theatre set to close for multi-million-pound refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall

The Pomegranate Theatre is set to temporarily close its doors later this month in preparation for a multi-million-pound renovation project that will create an enhanced and improved customer experience.

The theatre will close on Sunday 26 June before planned refurbishment works start on Stephenson Memorial Hall.

A series of community led events have been arranged ahead of the temporary closure.  These performances include, An Afternoon of Song and Dance organised by the Chesterfield Theatre Friends on 19 June and local ladies choir, the Honey Belles, on Saturday 25 June. The Heights Ballet & Theatre School will present Peter Pan on Sunday 26 June before the curtains close ahead of the renovation project.

Ian Waller, Chesterfield Borough Council’s service director – leisure, culture and community wellbeing, said: “Stephenson Memorial Hall is a landmark in our town and our ambitious plans are set to make it even more memorable and enjoyable – creating a modern visitor experience in the heart of our town.

“Colleagues have been working to carefully move all of the treasured items from the Museum into secure storage. Now this is nearing completion, we are now in a position to close the Pomegranate Theatre and move many of our shows into the Winding Wheel while the transformation of the building is carried out.”

Residents and visitors to the borough will still be able to enjoy a trip to the theatre as lots of popular shows will be moving across to the Winding Wheel during the refurbishment, including the annual pantomime which you can purchase tickets for on the Chesterfield Theatres website: https://chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/

Under the plans the refurbished Stephenson Memorial Hall will bring together an extended Pomegranate Theatre, a reconfigured and modern museum, alongside new gallery space, a café bar, education and community facilities.

The work will also protect the Grade 2 listed building and ensure that it remains part of the borough’s heritage for many more generations to come.

Creating a more accessible experience is another key aim of the proposals. The plans include three new lifts which will enable visitors, staff and artists with mobility difficulties to access all parts of the building including the circle seating area and upper museum floors.

Also included in the plans are improvements to lighting, heating, and ventilation.

The project is projected to cost around £17.5 million with £11 million of funding being secured via the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The project received a further funding boost with £695,000 from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme which will be used to install a ventilation system in the Pomegranate Theatre auditorium and create a new Changing Places toilet.

Chesterfield Borough Council has received almost £20 million through the Governments Levelling Up fund, the other £8 million will be used to support and enhance the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield Project.

Together this funding will help maintain Chesterfield as a vibrant market town by improving connections across the town centre and enhancing the visitor economy.

Find out more about the proposals for the Stephenson Memorial Hall on the Chesterfield Borough Council website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/business-and-economic-growth/regeneration-and-economic-growth/revitalising-the-heart-of-chesterfield/stephenson-memorial-hall-development

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

Improved customer experience technology being introduced at Chesterfield leisure centres

Visitors to Queen’s Park Sports Centre and The Healthy Living Centre will start to see several changes that will improve their experience when using the centres.

From late-June this year, self-service kiosks will be installed in the reception areas making it quick and simple to book and pay for various activities.

A new online booking system will also be introduced which has several functions, to include, booking and cancelling activities, paying for activities, accessing activity programmes, and managing personal details.

Staff will on hand to guide customers through how to use the new facilities during their visit, but it is anticipated that the new equipment will reduce waiting times in the reception area and allow customers to enjoy their leisure time quicker.

Ian Waller, Service Director – Leisure, Culture and Community Wellbeing, said: “The new system will be easy to use, although staff will be available to assist those who need any help when they attend our centres.

“Customer service is very important to us, so the new kiosks and online functionality will improve our customers experience when arriving at the centres and / or booking exercise classes, swimming sessions or amending membership details.”

If customers have any questions or queries about the changes being put in place, Chesterfield Borough Council encourages them to speak to a member of the leisure centre team when they next visit, although there will be a series of information and communication updates as  the go live date for the new system approaches.

To find out more about the different places to visit and activities you could be getting up to in Chesterfield, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/places-to-visit/

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Chesterfield’s Property & Construction Group is leaving no stone unturned in shaping our town into a great destination for generations to come

With so many great developments coming to fruition in our town centre and surrounding areas, there is plenty to get excited about in the coming years across Chesterfield.

We are beginning to see the groundwork for millions of pounds worth of investment in our town, which I’m confident will turn Chesterfield into a superb visitor destination and a place ripe for investment.

We are just weeks away from the opening of the highly anticipated Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, which has already seen plenty of interest from investors locally and further afield. The state-of-the-art business centre will help to create 500 jobs, ensuring the town centre economy is resilient for many more years to come. At Destination Chesterfield, we are very excited to be showing our Chesterfield Champions around the development in the near future, demonstrating what an asset the new Enterprise Centre will be once open and operational.

On top of that, development at Chesterfield Waterside is continuing at a pace, with new housing and high-quality office space being developed. This will be another key milestone in the regeneration of Chesterfield, with its proximity to Chesterfield Station making it an excellent location for commuters to Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby and beyond. The proposed Chesterfield Station Master Plan will also ensure anyone arriving in Chesterfield has a great first impression of the town when they step off the train!

In terms of our historic town centre, further transformations are going to be seen around several key sites. Our market will be revamped, ensuring one of our most treasured assets continues to thrive in modern times. The striking Stephenson Memorial Hall is also undergoing a major refurbishment, extending the iconic Pomegranate Theatre, and improving our cultural offer with a better museum, gallery space and education facilities.

Positive things are also happening in our town centre right now! We’ve seen several new shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants making Chesterfield their new home since we came out of the pandemic. It is very encouraging that so many great independent businesses are seeing the potential in our town for the future.

As part of the role of the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Property and Construction Group, business leaders within the sector locally are ensuring that with these multi-million-pound developments taking place across the town, no stone is left unturned in ensuring we can maximise the potential of these investments. The group constantly discusses several key themes based around skills, business support, promoting investment in Chesterfield and sustainability and wellbeing. As a group, we believe we have a golden opportunity to transform the landscape of Chesterfield for generations, and ensure our town aspires to be an excellent place to work, live, visit and invest.

To find out more about the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Property and Construction Group, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/propertygroup/ or email PropertyGroup@chesterfield.co.uk

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People encouraged to have their say on Chesterfield town centre regeneration plans

People are being encouraged to have their say on a multi-million pound project to revitalise Chesterfield town centre – helping the borough thrive for generations to come – with the launch of a public consultation.

The £10.28m Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield scheme aims to transform the look, feel and flow of the town centre – creating a contemporary market town that has better connections between key public spaces, and a more attractive physical environment.

It includes plans for significant improvements to Chesterfield’s historic market grounds, along with proposals that will help maximise the potential of the iconic Crooked Spire as a key attraction for visitors, while also re-imagining town centre spaces for a range of flexible uses including markets, festivals, events, cultural celebrations and community gatherings.

Together with the £17m refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall – which received planning permission in March 2022 – the project is being brought forward thanks to almost £20m which the council secured from the national levelling up fund at the end of last year.

The latest designs for the scheme were approved by the council’s Cabinet this month and are out for public consultation from 24 May to 8 July 2022 before a final Master Plan is developed.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We’re really excited to share our proposals for the town centre with the residents and businesses of Chesterfield, as well as those who work in and visit our borough.

“This is a chance for people to learn more about the plans and our vision for the future – and then tell us what they think, to help shape the final proposals.

“It builds on the consultation we held last summer, seeking views on plans to revitalise our historic market. Overall there was strong support for our ambition but some issues about the stall layout and size were raised – we have worked really closely with market traders, listened to their views and updated our plans based on their feedback, so having your say really does make a difference to the future of the town.”

People can take part in the consultation online at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/town-centre-consultation or visit an exhibition which is on display in the Visitor Information Centre in Rykneld Square (Mondays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm) during the consultation period, where paper copies of the plans and survey will be available to view.

Cllr Sarvent added: “Chesterfield has been a flourishing market town for hundreds of years, but like places everywhere, we must address the challenges that the increase in online shopping presents to the future sustainability of our town centre.

“Our town has so much to offer, and we want to harness and build on this to create a town centre that remains vibrant, and relevant in today’s world.

“This project, together with the scheme to refurbish our historic Pomegranate Theatre and Chesterfield Museum, will transform the experience for those visiting the town centre, and help sustain the economic future for the wider borough.”

Levelling up funding is being used to extend the council’s planned regeneration of the market grounds, with extra investment now centred on key public spaces and the connections between them – including Burlington Street, Corporation Street, Rykneld Square, Spire Walk, Market Square and New Square.

It is proposed that new paving, seating, lighting, and street furniture will combine with more greenery, to create better-looking and better-connected spaces which people can enjoy and socialise in.

The Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project will complement work to regenerate the Northern Gateway and – at the other side of town – will connect with plans to transform the area around Chesterfield Station.

Key areas of focus are:

  • Corporation Street – a tree-lined boulevard with improved paving and lighting will transform this key gateway to the town centre and provide a welcoming environment for visitors to the refurbished theatre and museum.
  • Spire Walk – the council will work in partnership with the Church of St Mary and All Saints to create a more welcoming and attractive space in which to enjoy our iconic Crooked Spire.
  • Rykneld Square – the proposals seek to make better use of this open public space – providing a better connection with the Crooked Spire, improving the feel and flow of this area.
  • Burlington Street – proposed upgrades to paving, planting and lighting will create a more attractive main route – better connecting the Market Place and High Street through to Rykneld Square and Spire Walk.
  • New Square and Market Place – a multi-million pound investment will revitalise Chesterfield’s historic market. The plans will create a modern, vibrant town centre experience with additional space alongside our traditional markets to host outdoor events and speciality markets. The council has worked with local traders to develop a revised market stall and layout design for the main market, and to consider how New Square could be used to complement the town centre offer in future.
  • Packers Row – under existing plans, in place before the successful bid for levelling up funding, this area will also undergo improvement, following the completion of similar public realm works at the nearby Elder Way. Plans include improved lighting and paving, with an overhead light canopy to add character.

Respondents to the public consultation will be entered into a prize draw to win £50 worth of Love2Shop vouchers.

The work will be carried out in phases and is due for completion in 2025.

 

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