Celebrate Chesterfield

Conference urges business growth and collaboration to boost Chesterfield’s economy

Businesses in Chesterfield are being encouraged to explore ways in which they can grow, as part of ambitious plans to improve the town’s economy and create higher-value jobs for residents.

Speakers at Destination Chesterfield’s annual Celebrate Chesterfield Business Conference highlighted ways in which local businesses can harness support to innovate and create new jobs.

They also identified that if all organisations in the town currently categorised as ‘low growth’ experienced just a 1% uplift, it would significantly boost the local economy.

Helping businesses to grow and ensuring people have the right skills are key objectives of Chesterfield Borough Council’s Growth Strategy (2023-2027). To support this, delegates at Celebrate Chesterfield heard from businesses which are innovating and overcoming challenges to boost growth.

Mike Isherwood, Managing Director of event headline sponsor, System Q explained how his business has evolved and adapted to become a supplier to major organisations, including the Ministry of Defence: “We are committed to providing our customers with the most innovative and advanced technology, ensuring their safety and security at all times.

“Our company is proud to be a part of the thriving high-tech community in Chesterfield, a town known for its innovation and progress. Despite the common belief that the best firms and talent are found in larger cities, this quaint town is home to a wealth of undiscovered talent.”

Ash Young, Managing Director of CarMats.co.uk recently relocated his business to the town.

He said: “If we hadn’t done things differently, we wouldn’t have seen the growth that we have. When we set up the business we were aiming for 100 orders per day, but because we changed the way we marketed the products, we are now shipping around 150,000 orders per year and we’re going to turn over about £7.5m this year.

“We’ve managed to hire a really skilled team in Chesterfield and the transport links mean it’s easy for us to get out to couriers easily.”

Amy Revell, of We Are Spaces Ltd recently expanded her business into larger office space at the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, having initially moved into the development last year.

She said: “We currently turn over around £7m and have 15 employees, and we are rapidly growing. Chesterfield has played a big part in our growth – we have a lovely office space here which we managed to grow from one of the smaller suites into a larger one. We’ve managed to recruit really good people in the area, and we are strategically placed really well. Being so central has allowed us to grow all of our core services nationally.”

At the conference, Destination Chesterfield also launched its ambitious new strategy and plan, which outlines the partnership’s aims to attract further inward investment, support businesses to grow and encourage more people to visit the town.

Peter Swallow, Destination Chesterfield Chair, commented: “This plan reflects our town’s ambition, and where we collectively see the biggest growth opportunities. Recent research has identified 26% of revenues from tourism, inward investment and talent growth are shaped by people’s perception of a town or city.  Meaning our collective work to promote the town are vital to achieving the towns growth aspirations.

Celebrate Chesterfield business innovation panel, Mike Isherwood, Cllr Tricia Gilby, Adam Doyle

“Since 2010, Destination Chesterfield has worked alongside Chesterfield Borough Council and Chesterfield Champions to promote the area as a contemporary destination to invest, work, live and visit, and our public-private partnership continues to play a central role in the town’s success. We must continue working together to raise the profile of Chesterfield to realise its significant potential.”

Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council added: “Celebrate is always a fantastic event that showcases the very best that our borough has to offer. It was great to be able to meet with businesses to talk about how the council can support them to grow, but also to hear from them directly and discover what else we can do to drive growth and investment.

“I was also pleased to see a strong reception the new Destination Chesterfield strategy and plan – this aligns closely with our own growth strategy and together we can help grow our local economy, attract more investment and deliver benefits for both businesses and our residents.”

The 2024 Celebrate Chesterfield Business Conference was also sponsored by Markham Vale and the University of Derby. The event also saw almost 40 businesses exhibiting across the East Midlands Chamber Business Support Zone and the Invest in Chesterfield Zone.

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

Peak District & Derbyshire businesses celebrate English Tourism Week

People are being reminded about the many great attractions and locations just waiting to be explored in the Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby as part of the area’s celebrations for English Tourism Week.

Taking place from 15 to 24 March 2024, English Tourism Week aims to raise the profile of the industry and celebrate the value and quality of tourism in England.

This year’s campaign, co-ordinated by VisitEngland, is using the strapline ‘supporting tourism, the heart of our communities’ to highlight the industry’s important economic, cultural and social impact.

Tourism in the Peak District and Derbyshire continues to be a key driver of jobs and growth for the area, generating an estimated £2.59 billion for the local economy and employing over 28,000 people.

The Visit Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) aims to grow the visitor economy further, working with local, national and regional stakeholders to create a strong, sustainable tourism sector that benefits everyone.

As part of the local celebrations for English Tourism Week, Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Deputy Leader of Derby City Council, Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, and Stella Birks, Visitor Economy Development Manager at Derby City Council, visited Derby’s historic Museum of Making to show their support.

The visit kick-started a week of digital activity that will see the teams from Visit Peak District & Derbyshire and Visit Derby showcasing local tourism businesses and urging visitors and residents alike to explore everything the area has to offer.

From stately homes and show caverns, to farm parks and gardens, museums and galleries, and award-winning pubs, restaurants and places to stay, the area offers a fantastic variety of attractions for everyone to explore.

As part of the activity, the LVEP joined team members at Destination Chesterfield to visit local attractions, such as the Crooked Spire, Chesterfield Escape Rooms, Chesterfield Market and Market Hall, Casa Hotel, and local independent retailers such as Adorn Jewellers and The Cheese Factor.

As well as showcasing some of the destination’s key tourism businesses, the activity will celebrate the hardworking people who work in the area’s visitor economy sector.

English Tourism Week also coincides with Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s annual Season Opener and Leaflet Swap, which is being held at Thornbridge Hall near Bakewell on Wednesday 20th March.

The popular event – funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered via the East Midlands Chamber’s Derbyshire Accelerator Project – is an opportunity for local tourism businesses to collect visitor collateral for the coming season, network with industry colleagues and benefit from short workshops and advice surgeries.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, says: “English Tourism Week is an opportunity to put tourism centre stage and showcase this vibrant industry which supports thousands of jobs and communities across the Peak District and Derbyshire.

“It’s a great chance to recognise the value of the sector, worth £2.59 billion locally, champion the hardworking people behind the businesses, and highlight our world-class destination as a great place to visit and stay. With Spring upon us and the Easter break just ahead, there’s never been a better time to visit or revisit some of the fantastic places we are so fortunate to have on our doorstep, and I encourage everyone to get out and show their support.”

Find out more about the range of exciting attractions in Chesterfield and plan your visit to the town: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/

To see what the Peak District and Derbyshire has to offer visit the Visit Peak District & Derbyshire website: www.visitpeakdistrict.com.

Visitors to the county’s attractions and local tourism businesses are being urged to share photos of their visits on social media using the hashtag #EnglishTourismWeek24, tagging @visitpeakdistrict and @visitderby. For more information on events and activities taking place in Chesterfield, search for @ChesterfieldUK on social media.

CasaMollieandNadia

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

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre welcomes chartered surveyors to grade A office space

A multi-disciplinary firm of chartered surveyors specialising in property auctions, surveys and agency has announced a move to Chesterfield’s Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre.

PriceLinsey boasts a combined 43 years of experience, with each team member having worn many hats in the property industry across Chesterfield, Sheffield, and also Manchester.

The three directors had known one another for almost a decade before deciding to venture out on their own and join forces, with Richard and Marcus going on to meet Jodie when they worked alongside each other at another local property firm. Living and working in the town, they are proud to represent Chesterfield and the surrounding area.

Marcus Linsey, Director at the company commented: “Moving into the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre was a really good move for our business. The new grade A office accommodation with its easy-in easy-out terms suites our every growing business and is superbly positioned within the heart of the town for us to connect with other solicitors and estate agents that we work alongside. The modern look and feel of the building also reflects our brand image.”

PriceLinsey NGEC

The company said that with all three directors living and working in the town, it made sense to make Chesterfield PriceLinsey’s new home.

Marcus continues: “The people and business are friendly and supportive and there are real opportunities for growth especially where business work together. Chesterfield is the perfect place to live and work being strategically located close to the M1 motorway, mainline railway station yet also within touching distance of the peak district for when you need to get away from it all! Personally, we love Chesterfield markets and the events that are help there like Peddler Market. The high street is changing and events like these help draw people into the town.”

“We work closely along side other local business including valuation work for solicitors and survey work for estate agents, and have been humbled by the positive response we have received since establishing. When we were expanding and looking for more office space, the borough council pulled out all the stops to allow us to move into the Enterprise Centre in the timescales we needed- which was short notice!”

PriceLinsey is now hoping to capitalise on further growth in the town following its recent move, with Marcus adding: “We hope the business will continue to grow by increasing the number of properties sold at auction and are keen to work alongside local authorities in the region to act on their behalf.

“On the other side of the business, we are carrying out an ever increasing amount of survey and valuation work. As this builds up we hope to take on an apprentice to help with this work. Who knows- we may soon need a bigger office in the NGEC!”

For more information on the wide range of quality office spaces available for businesses in Chesterfield, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

Pricelinsey NGEC 2

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Staveley Town Deal is a ‘Once in a generation opportunity’

Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, Ivan Fomin has provided an extensive update on the progress of several projects taking place as part of the £25m town deal, which will make a major impact on the future prosperity of the town for its residents and communities.

Strong progress is being made on the transformation of Staveley, with several projects being brought forward thanks to the £25m Town Deal Fund.

In January 2020 we held the first Staveley Town Deal Board and I had the honour of being elected as Chair of that Board responsible for the governance and oversight of the bidding process and subsequent delivery of the Towns Fund money allocated to us. We have already achieved plenty of progress over the last few years, and I’m excited by what is to come in 2024.

We were lucky enough to be granted in excess of the initial £25m as we had put forward 11 strong cases for projects within the greater Staveley area. We have delivered five ‘accelerator’ projects including juniors pitch drainage at Staveley Miners Welfare Football Club (SWMFC), town centre CCTV enhancement, improvements to King George V Park, design and enabling works for the DRIIVe project and the new performance canopy at Springwell Community College.

For the projects themselves, we have seen good progress but sometimes frustratingly they are hampered by uncontrollable events such as land acquisition and of course cost inflation.

Hartington Industrial Park has particularly suffered from the delay in land release by third parties, but this has moved forward, such that access to the site will be secured as will the route of the new mains incoming power supply.

hartington industrial park

Chesterfield Canal Trust continues to be a shining example of project management and is well on the way to commencing work on site. You may also have seen in the media that they have secured a large donation of the clay needed to construct the puddle bank on the eastern side of the proposed new route. The re-routing of utility services is bringing some challenges, but they are confident these can be resolved. A contractor has also been secured for a new bridge over the canal for cyclists and pedestrians, linking the Trans Pennine Trail and the Arkwright Trail.

TPT Bridge Chesterfield canal artist impression

Staveley Waterside which covers the onward development of the canal basin has passed planning approval. The development will bring flexible space for small businesses, alongside generating opportunities for retail and food & beverage outlets.

staveley waterside

The new DRIIVe rail innovation centre at Barrow Hill is a scheme of national significance and has now received planning permission. This unique project will provide workshop and classroom space to support specialist rail industry training, research and development facilities, and commercial space for rail-related businesses – bolstering Chesterfield’s ambitions to be a leading destination for the rail sector.

Driive artists impression

The Barrow Hill Memorial Hall has such historical importance it is wonderful to see the plans for resurrecting this building. The project is managed by a community trust, and they have employed a new project manager to oversee the next stages of the renovation. Once complete the new facility will provide a bar and café, health facilities, function room, and sports hall. It will provide a much-needed centre for the community to come together.

Barrow Hill Memorial Hall Image

Staying in Barrow Hill you may recall the announcement in October that the Barrow Hill line would be given the go ahead. It is important to note that this is subject to the scheme going through a government business case review, but we are pleased that there is every chance this line and the associated railway station will now come forward. As a Board we have allocated funding to enhance the new station, but meanwhile are pressing on with the delivery of the surrounding works such as pedestrian crossings, lighting, Wi-Fi and bus information systems. We await the outcome of the business case reviews.

A major concern of the Board is how the people of Staveley are going to access the new jobs which are being created. Even despite the success of the industrial investment in Markham Vale there is still no suitable bus service from Staveley. The Wheels to Work scheme proposes to help with this by introducing a number of travel related options to enhance mobility, and the first e-bikes and e-mopeds have now been made available to users.

markham vale

The Construction Skills Hub is an exciting initiative where the training will take place alongside a live building site. This has been designed to be a mobile scheme, and the first site has been established at the new Devonshire Group development at Mastin Moor. It is hoped in future that the installation will then be moved to new sites along the proposed relief route from Staveley to Chesterfield.

Staveley Miners Welfare Football Club continue to show massive commitment to the Staveley Town Deal, having obtained planning permission for their new training academy for BTEC sports skills development. Construction tenders came in higher than expected and this has led to a revised plan to refurbish an existing building to welcome the first cohort of students in addition to new buildings.

Artist impression of Staveley Miners Welfare Academy

Image supplied by Staveley Miners Welfare F.C. – Designed by Verteks Associates Ltd

These inflationary pressures in the construction sector have also influenced what will be possible to deliver on the Staveley 21 – a significant regeneration and revitalisation project in Staveley town centre. It is based around the masterplan developed in 2021 and includes improvements to the marketplace, a new lighting scheme, additional tree planting, a better connections to the canal and enhancement to the public realm. Shop front grants are available to local retailers to make exterior improvements to their business premises.

One casualty in 2023 was the loss of the Staveley Hall project. This project was to add a function room extension to the Grade 2 listed hall, but in the end it became apparent that it was unlikely to be able to satisfy planning conditions, and the project was reluctantly dropped. This meant that the funding allocated to that project was available to be used by other existing projects which could demonstrate the additional benefits from having the extra funding.

As a Board we were keen not to just put all the allocation into the Staveley 21 town centre scheme (which could no doubt have used all the £25 million of funding!), but rather to see what additional benefits could be found from the other nine projects too. We continue to work with all projects to ensure we can maximise the benefits and develop the programme on that basis.

One of the early considerations we had as a Board was the importance of communication with the residents and businesses in Staveley as to the progress of the programme, and we invited our Board member, Head Teacher from Springwell Community College, to chair a sub-group responsible for communication and engagement. While it is clear you can never have enough information being circulated, the group has been successful in liaising with local groups and attending events.

This has also allowed us to work closely with school pupils in the area to explain to them the work that is being done on the various projects, and to try to give them some vision for their future in Staveley.

In addition to the Government’s agenda for the Town Deal Board, we were also keen to find additional ways in which we could have a positive influence and add long term value to the work that was being done in the area. Our Board member, local GP and Divisional director from the Royal Primary Care Trust was able to help us understand the health metrics locally and also raised the issue of lack of cooking skills being taught to young people these days in schools.

The Town Deal Programme Manager, supported by Chesterfield College, have pushed forward with an initiative called Staveley To Eat Well (STEW), whereby a number of local school pupils spend time with catering students at the college to learn how to produce some simple but healthy meals.

Just before Christmas last year, I was invited to visit Staveley Junior School to have a look at the Christmas cards and decorations they had made. It was an opportunity for me to discuss with the Head Teacher the challenges the school faces, and we hope to be able to connect the school to local businesses who can help not only with funding, but also on developing the links with the world of work and careers.

We have a busy year of delivery ahead of us and I have encouraged projects to display hoardings and sign boards so that the residents can see more detail of what is going on at the various sites around the area. I hope that by this time next year we are seeing some real changes to the look of the wider town’s built environment and amenities.
This Town Deal is a once in a generation opportunity for us all, and I hope you are encouraged by the hard work and commitment that is going into delivering these projects.

Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board

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

Hotpod Yoga studio set to open at Chesterfield’s Elder Way

Hotpod Yoga will be the first tenant to locate to the new units created in the former Co-op department store on Elder Way.

Chris Wilkinson, owner of the new Hotpod Yoga Chesterfield franchise, has signed a 10-year lease on unit 7, a 1,420 sq ft unit located at the top of Elder Way near Saltergate.

He said: “I love the location. It is prominently located in the town centre and offers convenient parking for customers. It is a beautiful building, full of history and fresh energy. I am very much looking forward to opening the studio.”

Hotpod Yoga Chesterfield will open to the public on Thursday 18 April, with the first class taking place at 12.30pm.

Part of the national Hotpod Yoga chain, the new studio on Elder Way will offer an immersive yoga experience, using a pod as a safe environment for people to practice yoga in 37-degree heat while maximising the senses through relaxing sounds and calming scents.

The new Hotpod Yoga unit is one of seven street level units and large basement that have been created by regeneration specialist Jomast Developments. Additionally, there is a 92-bed Premier Inn hotel which has been successfully trading on the upper two floors of the building since 2019.

Mark Hill, Jomast’s Commercial Property Director welcomed Hotpod Yoga Chesterfield to Elder Way saying: “The addition of Hotpod Yoga to Elder Way brings forward the health and wellbeing element we envisaged for the building when we redeveloped it. Elder Way offers an ideal location for businesses. Not only is it an iconic building, but it is centrally located and benefits from excellent amenities and footfall from surrounding businesses, all of which have been further boosted by Chesterfield Borough Council’s investment in the town centre.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “It is fantastic to be able to welcome a new business to the town centre and I am delighted that they have chosen to be based on Elder Way. Following on from the redevelopment of the old Co-op department store we invested in improving the paving and area from Elder Way along Packers Row as part of our Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project.

“This investment has helped create a more attractive area and we will begin work on the wider project in the marketplace later this year. Using external funding to help improve our town centre is about creating an environment where businesses and visitors want to be, which will help grow our local economy.

“I wish Chris all the best with his new business venture, and I look forward to welcoming more businesses to Elder Way in the future.”

Work is now underway to install the heated pod, showers, toilets, changing and reception areas ahead of the opening next month.

Chris commented: “The unit is a real blank canvas which is making for a straightforward fit out.”

As a former NHS mental health nurse, Chris, who is also a qualified yoga teacher, aims to offer both health and wellbeing benefits through the yoga classes which will be delivered by fully qualified instructors. Classes, which are suitable for all levels, will run seven days a week from 6.30am.

The opening of the new yoga studio at Elder Way brings the Hotpod Yoga brand back to Chesterfield. Previously owned by another franchisee, and located at Chesterfield FC, the studio was forced to close amid the Covid crisis.

Chris commented: “I am delighted to bring the Hotpod Yoga brand back to Chesterfield. There was demand for it then and I believe demand has increased further as people recognise the mental health benefits of hot yoga as the heat enables the mind to become more focussed.”

Launched in 2013, Hotpod Yoga is now Europe’s largest yoga business with around 70 locations, including Sheffield and Derby.

Six units now remain available at Elder Way with joint agents, WSB Property and FHP, reporting strong interest from a number of operators.

For enquiries or further information about the units, visit www.elderway.co.uk

To book a class at Hotpod Yoga Chesterfield, visit hotpodyoga.com/studios/chesterfield/

Chris Wilkinson Hotpod Yoga Elder Way

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Work completed on luxury Chesterfield town centre apartments

The creation of 55 high-spec apartments in a prominent Chesterfield town centre building has been completed less than a year after work began.

The project has come in bang on schedule, and a launch date for the new apartments above shops in Burlington Street is taking place today (Friday, March 15).

Nottingham-based developer ALB Group has achieved a “first” for the company in its conversion of the town centre space.

As part of the redevelopment, an extra floor has been added at the top of the building, providing an additional 13 apartments, many of which have the benefit of a balcony.

Arran Bailey, managing director of ALB Group, said he was delighted with the end result.

“The result is unbelievable,” he said. “Not only has it made the existing building look so much more appealing and modern, but it has also created some apartments with fabulous outside space.

“The upper two floors of the building have now been remodelled while the ground floor remains in use for commercial retailers.”

Tenants currently occupying the commercial space on the ground floor include H Samuel, Betfred, and Max Speilman.

Arran said: “It’s the first time we have added an extra storey onto a block, and it’s turned out fantastically – we are very pleased with the results.”

The development has taken just 51 weeks from work starting until finish.

“We are extremely happy with how this redevelopment has turned out,” said Arran. “It has transformed the high street, breathing new life in this part of the town, while also providing high specification ‘must have’ apartments for the people of Chesterfield.”

ALB is committed to championing improvements in town and city centres across the country. The firm has made recent property purchases in Norwich, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, Nottingham, Peterborough, Ipswich, Huddersfield and Birkenhead, where footfall has since seen significant increases.

Rated the 2nd best place in the UK to raise a family, and the happiest place to live in the East Midlands, our town has so much to offer. Find out more about living in Chesterfield here. 

Chesterfield apartments burlington street external

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

PEAK Gateway Resort receives reserved matters planning approval

Chesterfield Borough Council has approved the reserved matters planning application for a revised first phase of the PEAK Gateway Resort on the reclaimed Birchall Estate. The 300-acre property is located on the eastern boundary of the Peak District National Park in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

PEAK proposes to bring the scope and services of internationally successful ski resorts to create the UK’s equivalent for biking, hiking and other adventure sports as well as for nature, culture and heritage experiences.

PEAK will have its own micro grid for energy, waste and water. PEAK will generate and consume its own energy and operate a zero-carbon tourism dedicated mobility service.

Planning permission includes extensive overnight and holiday accommodation supported by hospitality, leisure, wellness, a multi-disciplinary bike park and experiential retail. As such, it is one of the largest permitted mixed-use leisure schemes in the UK. Five of the six largest cities in England are within 75 miles, providing a visitor catchment of over 20 million people.

Labelled Gateway at PEAK Image

Locally, PEAK has the potential to create over 1,000 new jobs. It will partner with the education sector to deliver a Green Skills Academy in support of both PEAK and Chesterfield’s commitment to training and upskilling across a broad range of key sectors, but especially for construction and tourism.

PEAK will be open to day, as well as stay visitors. Local residents and businesses will be able to take advantage of incentives and membership opportunities.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “PEAK Resort offers a fantastic opportunity to bring more visitors into Chesterfield, grow our local economy and create a range of new jobs.

“It will be an incredible asset for our borough and will be a national leader in respect of clean energy, zero carbon mobility and skills.

“I look forward to seeing this development take shape over the next few years.”

PEAK Gateway Resort from above

The current landowner has, over many years, fully reclaimed the 300-acre Birchall estate from opencast. The property now provides the perfect natural setting for the consented development. Nature and outdoor experiences are at the heart of the PEAK offer and BNG (Biodiversity Net Gain) resulting from the development will all be achieved on the property.

Birchall and PEAK hope to be an exemplar of the reclamation of land from the industries of the past into enterprises of the future.

Rupert Carr, a director of Birchall and Peak Gateway Properties, said at the Planning Committee Meeting: “PEAK is the opportunity to deliver a clean growth infrastructure for the regional visitor economy, an opportunity for Chesterfield and indeed the region to build a significant presence in one of the fastest growing economic sectors. PEAK is finally of its time.”

PEAK Resort will also support the UK’s first hydrogen and EV tourist mobility service linking visitors to Chesterfield’s medieval market town centre, its national rail station and surrounding attractions as well as to the trails and natural wonders of the National Park.

Tarah Gear, director at Milligan who are part of Peak Gateway Properties said; “PEAK will become a blueprint for sustainable tourism, adding value to Chesterfield’s economy and community through job creation, investment in skills and regional connectivity.

“Milligan are proud to have been part of the team bringing the project forward to a point of market readiness. PEAK, as proposed, has been achieved through true partnership, a collaboration between local and regional stakeholders as well as national and international commercial operators. PEAK now has the opportunity to be a trailblazer and set new standards for the future of leisure and tourism.”

Colliers’ National Capital Markets team have been appointed to take the project forwards.

PEAK Gateway View

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£117m to be invested in council housing across Chesterfield

Around £117 million is to be invested into council homes across Chesterfield over the next four years – as part of Chesterfield Borough Council’s continued commitment to creating affordable, decent homes for people across the borough.

The Housing Capital Programme sets out the investment priorities for the next financial year, which will see the council spend £30.1 million on improving and increasing the housing supply in the borough.

The capital programme also details the council’s longer-term plans through to March 2028 to ensure that the council can continue to meet the decent homes standard, further improve the energy efficiency of its houses, and provide quality, affordable and accessible homes for local people.

Modernisation and refurbishment of the council’s existing homes remains a key priority in the council’s programme and will see the continuation of kitchen improvements and roofing upgrades, whilst there will also be improvements to footpaths, fencing and gates to help improve the look and feel of neighbourhoods.

In addition to refurbishing the existing housing stock, the council is committed to building almost 100 new council properties by 2028 to increase the number of affordable homes available in the area. Work to create 22 new build properties at Middlecroft and Westwood Avenue is now well underway, and additional sites have also been identified for new build projects.

In line with the council’s climate strategy, the work set out in the capital programme will also make a significant step towards improving the energy efficiency of its homes, for example replacing boilers and windows with more efficient options – allowing Chesterfield to become a low carbon, resilient and sustainable borough. This will not only help to reduce carbon emissions but will also help to reduce energy bills for tenants.

A further investment will also be made to help tackle damp and mould in homes. A recent survey has shown that the number of homes experiencing issues with damp and mould has almost halved but the council remains committed to tackling these issues.

Councillor Jean Innes, cabinet member for housing, said: “Our aim, as always, is to enhance Chesterfield’s housing offer and ensure we can provide affordable high-quality homes. A stock condition survey carried out in 2022 identified that the quality of our council homes has improved from the previous survey that took place in 2017.  This shows our investments have been made in the right areas, but we know there is more that we can do to ensure we can achieve and maintain a 100% decent homes standard.

“Our newly approved capital programme set out our strong commitment to achieving this and improving our homes to ensure they meet the needs of the people of Chesterfield, as well as actively contributing to the climate change agenda by ensuring all homes are energy efficient.

“Like local authorities across the country, the council is facing unprecedented financial challenges  but our priority is to make sure under-pressure budgets are spent on the essential services that local people rely on, including the provision of quality and affordable homes for the people of Chesterfield.”

town hall drone shot

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

Quirky new Chesterfield town centre store to provide ‘a smile, a laugh and bit of mischief’ to customers

A quirky independent store has opened its doors in Chesterfield Town Centre, selling a wide range of gifts and other unique items.

Eclectic Delights of Serendipity is owned by mother and daughter duo, Cheryl Knowles and Saffy Kendal-Allan, and has been running in Derbyshire for several years. Now, the business has begun welcoming customers to a new shop, based at 12 High Street.

The pair told us their story of running the business, and how it led to them taking the step to open in Chesterfield: “Some may know us from our little shop in Matlock Bath or previously our Hope shop or even know us from the beginning of our journey, 9 years ago at Cheryl’s first tiny shop just off Newbold Road.

spice girls mats eclectic delights

“Cheryl started off in her small shop doing re-loved furniture and small gifts which then took on a life of its own and she had to move into a larger shop at Hope Valley where she began being known more as a Gift, Clothing and Re-loved furniture shop. After a few years there, Cheryl then set her eyes on the ‘sea-side-without-a-sea’ town of Matlock Bath where Saffy joined to manage the shop as Cheryl continued in Hope Valley.

“However, after lockdown we decided to shut the Hope Valley shop and focus our efforts on Matlock Bath. After five years we decided we wanted a shop closer to home and by luck 12 High Street became available and three weeks later we are now in and ready for business.”

Cheryl and Saffy also explained what customers can expect to find when visiting the new Chesterfield shop.

They added: “Our shop name is exactly the type of items we sell: a broad and diverse range of items that you weren’t looking for but they appeared when you needed them. We are proud stockists of local independent suppliers such as: Letterbox Love, WaggyDogz, Enchanted Love, and so many more.

ecelctic delights

“We truly believe in having something that is for everyone which is why we don’t just sell cards and gifts but leather handbags, a MyMoments machine (which creates personalised items) and currently in the process of making a Boutique on our first floor. We also have plans for workshops on our first and top floor for both adults and children – so watch this space!”

In addition, the duo emphasised the importance of looking after customers and explained how they want to build up their community around the shop and the town: “What sets us apart from others is our customer care. We might be a shop, but we focus and care for our customers and their mental well-being while they are in our shop.

“Not everyone needs to buy something, but sometimes they just need someone to talk to and that’s what we are there for. We truly believe that if you look after the community around you, the community will look after you. Also, being a Mother and Daughter team we are always ready with a smile, a laugh and bit of mischief for all our customers as you can usually find us laughing and causing havoc together.

Being able to share this dream of running a shop together and bringing things in that we love and adore as well as spending so much time together is amazing and has brought us so close!”

“We are so excited to be a part of Chesterfield’s wide range of quirky independents. We have lived in Chesterfield for over 15 years and love the character of the town and its people. Chesterfield has such a friendly and welcoming community of people which we feel is unlike most towns or cities. As shoppers and now a business in the town we agree that we all need to support our local independents – each one brings something different and unique to the town making it a fun, diverse and great place to live and shop!”

For more information about the store, head over to the Eclectic Delights of Serendipity Facebook page.

Looking for a great opportunity to kickstart your leisure or retail business? Find out more about locating it in Chesterfield.

heart & home eclectic delights

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New Mayor and East Midlands Combined County Authority given final go ahead

The last legal step to establish the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) has been signed and made into law.

Jacob Young MP, Levelling Up Minister, this week signed the regulations that allow for EMCCA to be created. It means that residents across the area will get to vote for the very-first East Midlands Mayor, with elections taking place on Thursday 2 May 2024.

The new combined county authority is all thanks to a devolution deal, which will see the region benefit from a £1.14bn investment package, spread over a 30-year period, alongside devolved powers around transport, housing, skills and adult education, economic development and net zero.

Cllr Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “The passing of this final piece of Government legislation is an historic milestone for Derbyshire and the wider region.

“It marks the moment when the East Midlands Combined County Authority comes into existence, bringing a £1.14bn devolution deal to our region to improve people’s lives through better housing, improved transport and new job opportunities.

“In many ways it’s only the beginning of this exciting journey and more benefits and funding are already starting to flow – such as the government’s announcement of £1.5 billion local transport funding for the new East Midlands Mayor.

“Year-on-year the new combined county authority will bring even more funding to our region through a strong, collective voice and a national platform.”

Plans for East Midlands devolution are similar to those already in place in other mayoral regions, like the West Midlands and Greater Manchester, and it is estimated that the region will unlock around £4bn of funding over the coming years.

The East Midlands devolution deal, agreed with Government ministers in 2022, will see Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham benefit from a £1.14 billion investment fund. All four councils approved the creation of EMCCA in December.

In October 2023, the Government announced around £1.5 billion in transport funding for the East Midlands Mayor.

Thanks to devolution plans, the East Midlands has also been invited to establish an ‘Investment Zone’, which will attract £160 million of support over ten years, with tax incentives for businesses that will help boost economic growth right across the region.

Government will continue to work with EMCCA and other partners to co-develop plans for the East Midlands Investment Zone – which will bring in hundreds of millions of pounds of private investment and create thousands of jobs – including priority development sites and specific interventions to drive cluster growth, ahead of final confirmation of the plans.

£18 million has already been awarded to the area during devolution negotiations, which is being spent on improving local housing, transport and skills provision.

Further investment for the region would also be provided through annual Whitehall budgets and spending reviews.

The inaugural election for Mayor of the East Midlands will take place on Thursday 2 May 2024.

For more information on the elections, visit www.eastmidlandsdevolution.co.uk

Businesses in Chesterfield can hear from mayoral candidates for the East Midlands Combined County Authority at the annual Celebrate Chesterfield conference, taking place on 20th March 2024.

Jacob Young Levelling Up Minister

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Study ranks Chesterfield as the best town in the UK for access to green spaces

A study has named Chesterfield as the best town in the UK for access to green spaces.

The Green Giants market research exercise, which was commissioned by home improvements company Eurocell has set out to discover which UK towns and cities have the best access to green space.

To do this, the study looked at several data points, including the number of homes in each town or city with a private garden, the average square footage of that garden, as well as the average distance to public green space and the percentage of homes on the market that are currently listed as having a private garden.

These figures were then given a score out of 10 and ranked, leading to a total score out of 40.

Eurocell placed Chesterfield in top spot with a score of 30.8 out of 40. It found that:

  • 95% of homes & flats in the town had private outdoor space.
  • The average size of private outdoor space was 249.7 sq. m.
  • The average distance to nearest park, public garden or playing field was 296.7 m.
  • 92.05% of homes currently on the market have a garden.

Speaking about our town’s listing at the top of the table, Eurocell said: “Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, comes out on top as being the best place to live in the UK when it comes to access to green space. Close to the Peak District, Chesterfield is surrounded by the woodland walks and diverse habitats of the national park.”

“And the town itself has numerous parks and gardens including Holmebrook Valley Country Park and Linacre Reservoir.”

See the full top 20 list here. 

People living and working in Chesterfield also commented on the availability of open spaces as one of the area’s key strengths.

Jade Chinn, Marketing Lead at Oasis Studio said: “I personally like taking advantage of all the beautiful country parks and estates we have to explore in and around Chesterfield, Linacre Reservoir and Holmebook being personal favourites. They are also great for team building days!”

Jason Evans, HSE Advisor and Principal Designer at Mascot Management Ltd. added: “I love to go walking along the Chesterfield Canal. It’s on our doorstep and I feel it is still a bit of a hidden gem for our area. It’s a lovely place where you can get some relaxation time and take in the wildlife and scenery.”

Peter Botham, Founder and Managing Director of Shed Grounds Maintenance said: “One of my cherished spots in Chesterfield is Queen’s Park. When I was a child, my godparents would take me on the charming little train track that winds its way around the park. Now, I’ve had the joy of passing on this tradition to my own children.”

Oasis Studio, Mascot Management and Shed Grounds Maintenance support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Family walking at Queen's Park, surrounded by wild flowers

Queen’s Park, Chesterfield town centre

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