Development

Next phase of Staveley Basin development underway

Staveley Basin’s next phase of development has begun with contractors currently on site working to build wing walls to support the basin’s lock bridge.

Derbyshire County Council, which manages the project, has agreed to fund £89,000 towards the scheme, with Chesterfield Canal Trust contributing £76,000 in funds and volunteer time.

Ace Developments from Chesterfield has started an eight week contract to build the wing walls which will support the unfinished lock bridge already in place ready to carry a road over the canal.

The Staveley Basin project is part of work being completed with the help of volunteers to restore and improve Chesterfield Canal; making more of the waterway navigable.

The project has already seen the development of a mooring basin which can house up to 20 large canal boats and 12 smaller crafts.

Councillor Joan Dixon, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs, Economy and Transport said:-

“This latest work on the Staveley Basin project is part of plans to help develop Chesterfield Canal as well as improve the area for visitors and boats. The work of the volunteers helping us to develop the project has been fantastic and we cannot thank them enough.”

Groups who have been involved in helping the project include the Chesterfield Canal Partnership and the Waterway Recovery Group.

Chesterfield Canal Trust, which has also been helping since 2012, has raised over £45,000 towards the project through donations.

A group of around 15 volunteers from the trust meet every Sunday to help build the lock at Staveley Basin.

George Bunting, 65, from Brimington has been a member of the trust since 1995 and is currently helping with construction.  He said:-

“The main benefits of the work at Staveley Basin will be the boost it gives tourism with people who come in on boats hopefully spending money in Staveley.  The thing I most enjoy about volunteering is the camaraderie and the idea that we are achieving something for the local community and leaving something for future generations.”

(Image courtesy of Chesterfield Canal Trust

Source:Derbyshire County Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

Hopes for leisure centre funding boost

A grant application of more than £1 million will be made by Chesterfield Borough Council to fund extra facilities at the proposed new Queen’s Park Sports Centre.

An expression of interest to Sport England’s Strategic Facilities Fund has been successful and the council has now been formally invited to submit a full application.

A decision on whether the bid will be successful or not is expected to be made by Sport England’s board in the summer.

If funding is granted, it will enable the council to add extra facilities requested by users, the public and sports groups during the public consultations.

This could include increasing the number of lanes in the swimming pool from six to eight and adding two more courts to create an eight court sports hall, which would enable a wider range of sporting activities to take place at the same time.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s executive member for leisure, culture and tourism, said:-

“We said from day one of this project that we would be seeking to make grant applications that could enable us to add more facilities as soon as we were at the stage in the process that enables us to do this.

“The application will have to be considered by Sport England against other worthy bids so there are no guarantees of success.

“But we are pleased that Sport England recognised the local importance of this project and its potential to contribute to their community sport objectives when they supported us in the expressions of interest stage of the process.

“We believe we can put forward a really good and convincing bid as the grant would enable us to deliver an even better leisure centre that inspires more Chesterfield residents to get fit, active and healthy.”

Sport England’s Strategic Facilities Fund offers grants of up to £2 million for local authority projects that bring together multiple partners, including input from the public and private sectors. The fund is also designed to encourage applicants and their partners to invest further capital and revenue funding to ensure sustainability.

It is expected a decision on the planning application for the replacement Queen’s Park Sports Centre can be made within the next couple of months.

If the bid to Sport England is successful the grant funding would be added to the money already committed to the building by Chesterfield Borough Council and Chesterfield College.

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

New business centre and community park for Chesterfield

The first phase of the £3.8m restoration programme at Staveley Hall is nearing completion.

This follows several years of hard work from the Heart of Staveley Project, set up to transform the semi-derelict building and its historic walled garden into a centre focused on community, education, heritage and arts activities.

The project is creating Staveley Hall Business Centre, which will provide up to 70 jobs, as well as restoring the historic walled garden – transforming it into a town centre community park.

The first phase of the project, the revival of the stable block, will open in early June 2014, with office space available for 11 small businesses.  

Once complete in June 2015, Staveley Hall will also provide space for another 7 businesses to be located on the upper floors, with meeting rooms and a café on the ground floor.

The Heart of Staveley, which was launched in 2008, has so far secured £3.4m towards the cost of the £3.8 million project and there is a robust fundraising strategy in place to raise the remaining balance.

Funding has come from a range of charitable grant giving trusts including the Heritage Lottery Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.  Staveley Town Council has also borrowed £750,000 from the Public Works Loans Board.

It is envisaged that Staveley Town Council will ratify the tender price in July 2014 and take a 33 year lease of the Hall and walled garden once work has been completed.

A small team of staff will be appointed, led by a hall manager and administrator, heritage and education officer, head gardener and volunteer coordinator who will be supported by up to 50 volunteers.

There are also plans for a garden team of 20 which will be established to work with the head gardener to restore the garden and then maintain it as a community park, based on the historic 17th Century structure, for the local community.

An public event is to be held at Staveley Hall on 15 April 2014 (4pm – 8pm) to provide an explanation of proposals, to seek support and start to create a team of volunteers.  Representatives of Staveley Town Council, the Heart of Staveley and the professional team will be available to explain the scheme and answer any queries.

Tours of the stable block will be available for those who are interested.  For more information please contact Staveley Town Council on 01246 473132.

Source:Staveley Town Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Markham Vale Enterprise Zone expansion announced by Sheffield City Region at MIPIM

Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone has announced plans to increase its size by almost a half including Markham Vale in Chesterfield.

The news follows extensive talks between local leaders and Government officials to negotiate the deal, which will see Zone expansions in Barnsley, Rotherham, Sheffield and Markham Vale, as well a new site at Doncaster-Sheffield Airport.

The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been brokering this deal with Government, which will mean that investors looking to set up in the Sheffield City Region will be able to access tax breaks across a new range of prime sites.

The existing Enterprise Zone sites totals 145 hectares, and this will add 70 hectares, which now gives the Zone a total area of 215 hectares.

The LEP has focused on attracting modern manufacturing and technology companies to the City Region by offering the opportunity to collaborate with world class manufacturers and universities in the area, as well as offering the top level of government tax incentives.

The announcement will be made today at MIPIM, where the LEP is showcasing the Enterprise Zone to an audience of 20,000 influential decision makers from the international property market.

James Newman, Chairman of Sheffield City Region LEP, who is currently at MIPIM in Cannes, said:

“I am delighted that the Government has listened to the LEP and enabled us to expand our Enterprise Zone to include additional strategic sites, including the land next to Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

“Since the launch of our Enterprise Zone in 2012, 18 new companies have located on our Enterprise Zone with 345 jobs already created on site and around 300 set to be created in the coming months.

“Businesses have been attracted to join our modern manufacturing and technology community which offers outstanding transport connectivity, a highly-skilled talent pool and the best UK Government tax incentives available.

“Now that our expansion has been confirmed, the LEP will be working closely with partners to ensure that the new sites can boast our full package Enterprise Zone benefits including simplified planning, superfast broadband and global promotion at international events.”

Local Growth Minister Kris Hopkins said:

“The Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone is creating a world class centre for modern manufacturing and technology.

“Expanding the Enterprise Zone will help to grow a community of world class businesses, which already boasts names like Rolls-Royce, Boeing and Firth Rixson and bring more investment, jobs and a boost to the Sheffield City Region economy.

“This is part of our long term economic plan to back business and enterprise right across the country, and it will help Sheffield City Region to grow stronger to build more homes and create more jobs to harness the talents of hard working local people.”

Source:Sheffield City Region

Posted in Development

Holdsworth expansion brings more jobs to Markham Vale

Construction of a 17,900 sq ft distribution warehouse and cold-store for Holdsworth has commenced on site at Henry Boot Development’s Markham Vale scheme.

Family owned Holdsworth, who supply food to caterers across the UK, originally purchased a 15,000 sq ft unit at Markham Vale in 2009.  However, the company required a larger facility to house its cold-store and chose the Markham Vale location once again.

Director, Rupert Holdsworth commented: “We chose to expand our operation at Markham Vale based on the quality of build at our existing site and also due to the excellent transport links and ease of access to the site”.

Initially the new premises will be utilised by existing Holdsworth staff whilst their base in Tideswell undergoes essential maintenance and repair work. Once the works at Tideswell are complete Holdsworth plans to continue to operate from both depots creating additional jobs at Markham Vale.

Ben Ward of Henry Boot Developments commented: “It’s great news that Holdsworth, an established Derbyshire company, has chosen to expand at Markham Vale. We are also in detailed discussions with a number of other occupiers and hope to be able to release details soon.”

Source:Henry Boot Developments

Posted in Business, Development

Business centre expansion supporting work to bring 5,000 jobs to Chesterfield

A business centre which is playing a vital role in the drive to bring thousands of jobs to Derbyshire is to be extended in a £975,000 scheme.

The Markham Vale Environment Centre is at the heart of Derbyshire County Council’s Markham Vale regeneration site close to junction 29A of the M1.

The former coalfield site is eventually expected to employ around 5,000 people. It is already home to 28 businesses employing over 400 people.

The Markham Vale Environment Centre is powered by on-site renewable energy and is at full occupancy – providing environmentally friendly work spaces for 12 small businesses.

Its meeting rooms are used by firms already on site and by businesses planning to relocate to Markham to recruit and train staff.

The £975,000 investment will see the centre double in size, bringing more workspace and offices. The bulk of the cost will be met through a £611,520 European Regional Development Fund Grant, with the county council contributing £363,480.

Councillor Joan Dixon, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Jobs, Economy and Transport, said: “The Markham Environment Centre has been a huge success and continues to play a key role in our work to deliver jobs for Derbyshire people.

“The centre’s expansion will double the amount of space available for use by companies which are already on site and those thinking of setting up at Markham to bring jobs for local people.

“This adds to the strong foundations which we’ve put in place to ensure Markham Vale is in a position to flourish as the economy picks up and is the latest in a string of recent positive announcements.”

Earlier this month Markham Vale received a £14.2m boost after successfully bidding for Government cash to turn dormant sites into prime economic land.

The funding will be used to develop the northern part of Markham Vale site, including a new link road, where the former Seymour Colliery site once stood.

Markham Vale has been granted Enterprise Zone status by the Government, meaning firms moving to some areas of the site can apply for Enhanced Capital Allowances – offering tax relief for major investment in plant and machinery.

Source:Derbyshire County Council

Posted in Business, Development

University future for landmark Chesterfield building

The University of Derby is delighted to announce the purchase of a Grade II listed former girls’ school in Chesterfield which will be used to support its growing presence in the town.

The acquisition of the St Helena Centre from Derbyshire County Council provides the University with an opportunity to further strengthen its work with the neighbouring Chesterfield College on Sheffield Road.

Major refurbishment would be required to bring the 2.2 acre site up to standard but, as a former school, many aspects of its layout lend themselves to further educational use.

The University could have the new centre ready by mid-2016.

It will bring new jobs to Chesterfield, business support, business incubation, nursing, engineering and real world learning to the town. The proposal has already been well received by Destination Chesterfield, which coordinates efforts to promote the town.

Hari Punchihewa, Deputy Chief Executive and Finance Director at the University of Derby, said: “We have been working for some time to extend our presence in the town.

“This strategic acquisition extends our options to be of service to the town of Chesterfield and to help the economic development through comprehensive business support to create jobs and bolster the higher education offer already in place there.

“The building itself is a wonderful structure which sits in a perfect location, being so close to town and the college.

“The University of Derby has proved before that it is excellent at taking special buildings and bringing them back to life. You only have to look at the Buxton Dome to realise that. It would be great to see the building returned to its original purpose for education but this is just one of the options open to the University.”

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Council Services, Councillor Brian Ridgway, added: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to give the University the opportunity to extend their work intoChesterfield. This is the best possible use for the St Helena Centre.

“The University will bring new jobs to the area and create opportunities for people from Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire and Bolsover to increase their qualifications and skills.

“We’ve just announced a £14.2m investment in the Markham Vale site and having a more skilled local workforce will make coming to Derbyshire a more attractive proposition for businesses.”

The centre was built in 1911 as a school. The girls’ school closed in the 1990s and the council then used the building as offices until late 2013.

Source:University of Derby

Posted in Development

FIRST STAGE PLANS FOR CHESTERFIELD WATERSIDE

Acting on behalf Chesterfield Waterside Partnership, a joint venture between Urbo Regeneration and Chesterfield Borough Council, HOW Planning has secured reserved matters planning approval for the first phase of the £300 million mixed use regeneration scheme in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

The site, known as Chesterfield Waterside, is made up of land within the A61 and Chesterfield Canal Corridor and the planning approval for 19 new homes marks the first element of the extensive scheme which is set to be delivered over the next few years.

Says Liz McFadyean, Senior Planning and Environmental Consultant at HOW Planning:  “This is a fantastic result which will see work get underway at the new Chesterfield Waterside site.  The overall development will open up a huge area of redundant land, transforming it into a thriving new district, helping to create new jobs, providing new housing as well as services that will help support these homes.”

Chesterfield Waterside is being delivered by specialist regeneration developer, Urbo Regeneration which is controlled by Chesterfield based Bolsterstone PLC and Arnold Laver Group and comprises an employment and residential led mixed-use regeneration scheme covering 25ha site and creating approximately 2000 jobs.

HOW carried out all planning and retail work for the initial outline planning application which was approved in March 2011

In addition to new residential, retail, office and leisure accommodation the development will include new canal link into the Chesterfield Canal will enhance the waterside environment and will be complemented by open space including a linear park and eco-park as well as high quality new public realm space.

Peter Swallow, Chairman of Chesterfield Waterside commented:  “This is a large and complex scheme and it is great to see things moving.  A lot of hard work has been put into every stage of the project and HOW has led an extensive professional team in all planning stages. This is a fantastic result and allows us to get underway with delivery phase, which is likely to be a period of 10-15 years.’

Source:Chesterfield Waterside

Posted in Development

Cash boost for Markham Vale Enterprise Zone

Sheffield City Region’s Enterprise Zone is set to receive more than £14 million to speed up the delivery of vital infrastructure for the Markham Vale logistics development.

The money will come from a £100 million ‘nuts and bolts’ fund designed to transform land at enterprise zones across the country and fast-track new jobs in key industries, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced today.

As part of the Government’s long term economic plan, 12 bids have been shortlisted from locations across the country to share the cash pot.

Markham Vale, a leading logistics and distribution park off the M1, could win up to £14.2 million.  The grant will generate a further £95.7m of private sector investment, create more than 2,100 jobs and build new access roads, around 16,720 sq m of commercial floor space, and unlock a further 33 Ha of land for development.

The £100 million set to be released by Government will fund projects such as road building, refurbishment, utility supply and land clearance to unlock previously dormant areas and turn them into prime economic sites that attract new businesses and develop local economies.

Across the country the funding for road building, refurbishment, utility supply and land clearance will lead to 3.5 million square metres of land being brought back into use and the creation of 124,000 square metres of new commercial floorspace by 2015 (over 10 football pitches).  In addition 10km of new road and 2 new bridges will be constructed, reducing congestion for residents and increasing the access to new Enterprise Zone sites for business.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said:

“Enterprise zones are at the centre of our long-term economic plans to build a stronger, more competitive business environment and a better future forBritain.

“This funding will give these areas the infrastructure they need to attract more investment, support the growth of local businesses and create up to 3000 jobs for hardworking people across the country.”

James Newman, Chairman of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said:

“The UK economy will be getting an excellent return on this investment from Government which will help to unlock more than £80 million of new business investment and over 2,000 new jobs for the Sheffield City Region.

“The Government’s decision to invest £14 million in our Enterprise Zone will be welcomed by international investors looking to set up in the Sheffield City Region. This important funding will enable us to meet unmet investor demands by making improvements to our Enterprise Zone at Markham Vale, including medium-sized business units and developing larger areas for bigger investors.

“Improvements at Markham Vale will help us to build on the success of our Enterprise Zone, which in its first year attracted 15 new occupiers, created 228 new jobs and was picked out as the number 1 UK free zone by the Financial Times.”

Since they opened for business in April 2012 Enterprise Zones have laid firm foundations for success, attracting international companies, building centres of excellence in key industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals and renewable energy, and delivering the infrastructure and training that will ensure that Britain continues to be competitive and successful on the global stage.

In total they have:

·         attracted 250 businesses

·         secured £1.1 billion of private sector investment

·         created over 7,000 jobs.

Source:Sheffield City Region

Posted in Development

Public’s favourite design chosen for Hornsbridge Roundabout in Chesterfield

Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet has approved plans for a key entrance into the town, as chosen by the public and local businesses.

At their meeting on Tuesday 22 October, cabinet members approved plans for work by a local artist, guided by the outcome of a public consultation, to be installed at Hornsbridge roundabout, the main gateway into Chesterfield from the M1.

£300,000 in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Barratt Homes, who is currently building 68 homes on the site of the former Chesterfield Football Club on Saltergate, has been provided to improve the area.

This funding can only be used for public artwork and work to improve the look and feel of the roundabout.

The aim of the project is to provide a talking point and to attract inward investment into the town centre.

Members of the public and business leaders in Chesterfield have chosen a design by Derbyshire-based artist Melanie Jackson for the site.

The public were given the opportunity to choose between four shortlisted designs during a consultation held during August and September, 507 members of the public commented online and in person during an event at the Pavements Shopping Centre.

The design was also chosen by the Chesterfield Champions, a network of local business leaders.

The chosen artwork, entitled Growth, features a wheel or cog, integrated into the landscape, symbolising Chesterfield’s strong industrial heritage with an opening bud or flower rising out of the centre.

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader and executive member for regeneration said: “At the junction of the A61 and A617 and next to the Midland Main Line, the area’s rail link to London, Hornsbridge is the most important entrance to Chesterfield, it is, therefore, only right that we take any opportunity to improve this area.

“The funding for this has been provided by the European Regional Development Fund and Barratt Homes and can only be used for this purpose with the aim of attracting more economic development in the town centre.”

A further £190,000 in funding will be spent on the pedestrian approach from Chesterfield Railway Station to the town centre.

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development

Revamped Market Hall prepares to open its doors

The finishing touches are currently being added to Chesterfield’s Market Hall, which opens later this month after a £4 million redevelopment.  Click here for photographs.

The new Market Hall, owned and operated by Chesterfield Borough Council, opens on Monday 28 October after the work, which has taken 12 months to complete.

The main retail hall has been transformed with a glazed atrium above first floor level providing natural light and the 1970s extension on New Square has been redesigned to be more in keeping with the original Market Hall whilst providing high quality offices at first floor level.

The majority of existing traders who were trading in the Market Hall were offered space in the new one and are currently fitting out their premises.

The new Market Hall will offer an improved shopping mix for the town centre with a wide variety of stalls including: perfume, mobile phone repairs, sweets, footwear, wools, butchery and seafood.

A new central café area is at the heart of the ground floor operated by Market Plaza Café, managed by mother and daughter team, Lynne and Shannon Benison.

Market Plaza Café is owned by SLIC Training.  The company will offer opportunities for new apprentices to train on the job in the new café.

The new Market Hall will open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.  The butchers and café will open from 8am.

The shopping offer will be further improved as new external units prepare to open.  Fred’s Haberdashery has expanded and will be moving to the bigger former Douglas Turner unit on 28 October.  Further external pitches will be opening during December.

The upper storeys contain rented office accommodation for businesses.

The Assembly Rooms have been restored to their former glory.  They will host the CAMRA beer festival, sponsored by G F Tomlinson, which takes place on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 November.

The Assembly Rooms, based right in the heart of Chesterfield, will also available to hire for parties, weddings, business meetings from December.

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader and executive member for regeneration said: “I am proud that at a time of cuts, when many councils have been forced to scale down their markets, we have been able to invest in the Market Hall and the traders who offer a wide range of choice to shoppers in Chesterfield.

“I’d like to thank the traders for their patience while the work has been carried out and I hope they are as excited as I am to see the jewel of the market place restored to its full glory.”

£2.1 million for the project was provided by the European Regional Development fund and Lottery grant with the remainder by Chesterfield Borough Council.

The work has been overseen by the council’s asset management partner estate management partner, Kier with G F Tomlinson as main contractor.  Project management has been carried out by Mace with IBI Taylor Young as architects and Ramboll as engineers.

Source:Chesterfield Borough Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development, Visiting