Replacement Saltergate car park work begins in February
Work to demolish Saltergate car park and replace it with a modern 24-hour a day multi-storey car park will begin next month.
Chesterfield Borough Council will close the existing car park at 7pm on Saturday 3 February so contractors can decommission the lifts, electric, water and telecoms supplies, ahead of demolition work a month later.
Motorists will be able to use a wide range of alternative Chesterfield Borough Council-run car parks while the work takes place. Signs and leaflets giving drivers further information are being issued this week.
During the spring a planning application will be submitted seeking permission to build a multi-million pound replacement that offers:
- Safe, secure, 24 hour parking
- Better parking facilities for motorists
- Increase the number of parking spaces to 531
- A more contemporary building.
Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said:-
“The new car park is part of the wider Northern Gateway project. It will deliver a better quality multi-storey car park for shoppers, commuters and users of the hotel, restaurants, bar and gym that are currently being developed as part of the scheme to refurbish the former Co-op building.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this causes motorists in the short term but we believe it will be worth it once the improved 24-hour car park opens, which will increase the number of spaces available.
“We have sufficient spaces in our other car parks to cope with all the motorists who currently use Saltergate. We have already begun talking to customers to make them aware of alternative arrangements and will also be putting up signs across the town to direct people to their nearest convenient car park.
“The existing Saltergate car park is showing its age and does not provide the modern facilities that modern motorists need. We did look at renovating the existing one but the level of structural engineering work required meant that it made financial sense to build a replacement one instead.”
During the work alternative short and long stay car parking is available at the following car parks: Beetwell Street multi-storey car park, Holywell Cross, Rose Hill, Soresby Street, Albion Road, Devonshire Street, Durrant Road, Theatre Lane, St Mary’s Gate, Station Road, Derbyshire Times, Spa Lane, Hollis Lane, Queen’s Park Annexe, Queen’s Park South and North.
Monthly permit holders will be able to use them at Beetwell Street multi-storey or on selected surface car parks.
From 15 January day saver tickets will only be available for use at Beetwell Street multi-storey car park. Scratch cards for surface car parks can be bought from the Visitor Information Centre or Beetwell Street multi-storey car park.
More details, including an interactive map of alternative car parks, can be seen at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/saltergate.
Work on the Northern Gateway scheme began in December 2017 when developers Jomast started refurbishing the former Co-op department store. When completed, the building will include:
- Seven ground floor family restaurants and bars
- A 92 bedroom Premier Inn hotel on the first and second floors
- A health and fitness centre in the basement.
To support this Chesterfield Borough Council is going to build the new Saltergate multi-storey car park and use a £5.83 million grant from Sheffield City Region to:
- carry out major environmental improvements to Elder Way and Knifesmithgate that will transform the area
- build an enterprise centre on part of the Holywell Cross (Donut) car park to meet the demand for town centre business units for start-up and small to medium sized companies. This will create jobs and bring more customers to the town centre.
Chesterfield Borough Council is in the final stages of procurement for a contractor to build the new Saltergate multi-storey car park. The date for the opening of the new multi-storey car park will be confirmed once the building designs have been prepared and planning permission has been granted.
