£3 million housing complex opens in Chesterfield
A £3 million housing complex for older people has been officially opened by Chesterfield Borough Council.
Parkside in Stand Road has 22 two-bedroom flats, each with a kitchen and lounge area, wet room type bathroom, hall and storage area.
Each flat also has a balcony, Juliette balcony or bay window, with most overlooking Stand Road Park.
In addition to individual facilities the complex has a common room, communal kitchen, assisted bathrooms, storage area for mobility scooters, courtyard and garden area.
The official opening was performed by Carol McManus, wife of former councillor and Alderman Jim McManus, who died in August last year. Alderman McManus had been a councillor for 28 years and cabinet member for housing for four years before he stood down from the council in May 2015.
The building has been dedicated jointly to the memory of Alderman McManus and Andy Simpson, Chesterfield Borough Council’s head of housing from July 1996 to July 2013, who died in February 2015.
Both men were involved in coming up with the plans to demolish the old Parkside and build a modern replacement in its place.
Councillor Tom Murphy, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “This is the first major new council housing development for five years and provides fantastic accommodation for the residents here.
“The residents have great views of the park from their balconies and have all told me how much they appreciate the new facilities.
“It was very fitting that the opening was carried out by Carol McManus as her late husband Jim, and his colleague Andy Simpson, were instrumental in making this project happen.
“I know they would both have been very proud to see the finished project and the benefits that it is bringing to the residents who have moved in.”
The complex has been built on the same site as the old Parkside building, which was demolished in 2014.
Residents moved in to the new Parkside building during the summer.
Parkside was designed by Franklin Ellis Architects and built by A&S Enterprises Ltd.
