Development

Major new development set to build on the success story of Markham Vale

A major extension to the Markham Vale North development, granted by Chesterfield Borough Council in December last year, has now been approved by Bolsover District Council.

The decision is a significant milestone for the project and follows three years of extensive discussions with both councils and the local community. It will enable the creation of a high-quality addition to the commercial offer at Markham Vale, further strengthening the local economy.

HBD, the developer behind Markham Vale, will work with Devonshire Property Group to bring the new scheme forward, with the potential to create up to 800 new jobs.

The extension to the Markham Vale North development will boast strong sustainability credentials, with an extensive landscaping plan that protects and improves the existing river corridor.

Significant planting will include around 5,700 new trees (including 2.15ha of new woodland planting), 3.7ha of new grassland habitat and 2km of new native hedgerow to screen the development and create areas of new habitat.

Markham Vale, a joint venture partnership between HBD and Derbyshire County Council which began in 2006, has created more than 2,700 jobs across a wide range of sectors, including advanced manufacturing and logistics. It is home to a range of businesses, including Bilstein Group, which manufactures and distributes automotive parts, Granger International manufacturers of waterproof outdoor products and shoe care products, and Sterigenics, makers of sterile healthcare products.

Markham Vale North Extension site plan

David Wells, Director at HBD, said: “It’s great to be able to move forward with this project – it will allow us to meet established demand for superior sustainable and well-located industrial stock, while continuing to attract vital inward investment into the region. We look forward to working alongside Devonshire Property Group to bring the scheme forward.”

Andrew Byrne, Property Development Director at Devonshire Property Group spoke about the exciting plans at the Celebrate Chesterfield business conference, which called on businesses to ‘get involved,’ ‘collaborate’ and ‘make change happen’ to ensure the town achieves its transformational growth strategy by 2030.

Read more about what was discussed at the annual event here.

Andrew commented: “We are delighted that both planning committees have approved this exciting project. This is a high-quality extension to an already successful employment location, and will make a real contribution to the strength of the local economy and the environment. It is a further demonstration of how the Devonshire Property business is actively investing into both Chesterfield and Bolsover, delivering on our stated ambitions of creating jobs and opportunities for local communities. We look forward to being part of this regeneration, working alongside our Joint Venture partner HBD.”

Devonshire Property Group and HBD support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

Andrew Byrne speaking at Celebrate Chesterfield 2023

Andrew Byrne speaking at Celebrate Chesterfield 2023

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

Proposals submitted for new Staveley Waterside Development

Proposals for the first phase of a new waterside development in Staveley have been submitted for planning approval by Derbyshire County Council.

Plans for the Staveley Waterside Development at Staveley Basin have been drawn-up as part of the Staveley Town Deal – a £25m Government-funded regeneration programme for the area.

Planning permission is being sought from Chesterfield Borough Council to construct a two-storey building, offering flexible space for new and existing small businesses, some retail use, and a food and beverage opportunity, with indoor and outdoor dining space, along with an access road, and mooring space.

£2.664m has been earmarked from the Staveley Town Deal fund, subject to planning approval, for the first phase of the development on the Staveley Basin site, which forms part of the Markham Vale estate – the county council’s flagship regeneration site with HBD (formerly Henry Boot Developments) off M1 junction 29a.

Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, spoke about the development taking place across Staveley as part of a panel discussion at the Celebrate Chesterfield 2023 business conference.

The event encouraged organisations across the area to support Destination Chesterfield to market the town as a destination to invest, work, live and visit. Read more about the conference here.

Ivan said: “Staveley Waterside represents a fantastic opportunity to breathe new life into the area around the canal basin by creating facilities for businesses, residents and visitors.

“Enhancing the visitor experience around the canal with make it even more attractive to walkers and cyclists. The regeneration of this area will leave a lasting legacy for future generations and ensure that Staveley is a place where people can start, stay and grow.”

Ivan Fomin speaking at Celebrate Chesterfield 2023

Ivan Fomin speaking at Celebrate Chesterfield 2023

Councillor Tony King, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, said: “We’ve put together proposals for an exciting new development which will help to bring jobs to the area and boost the visitor economy.

“Derbyshire County Council has been working alongside partners over a number of years to improve the Staveley Basin area and the Staveley Town Deal has given us a great opportunity to turn our ideas into reality, using our expertise from Markham Vale to create high-quality business accommodation as well as a visitor destination that people from near and far can enjoy.”

Staveley Waterside is one of three projects the county council is leading as part of the Staveley Town Deal which includes 11 projects in total.

Wheels to Work is a project the county council is leading to help people in Staveley access job and training opportunities by providing bicycles and e-scooters for those with limited transport options. And the county council is also heading up a project to reinstate a railway station in Barrow Hill and create better public transport connections between Staveley, Chesterfield and Sheffield for jobs and training opportunities.

For more information about the Staveley Town Deal projects visit www.chesterfield.gov.uk/staveley-town-deal

Staveley waterside 2023

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Get involved, collaborate and make change happen conference tells Chesterfield businesses

Chesterfield businesses have been urged to take action if they want to make a difference to the town’s future.

Speaking at the annual Celebrate Chesterfield Conference on Thursday 2 March, organised by Destination Chesterfield in association with Addooco IT, Peter Swallow, Chair of the town’s inward investment marketing campaign Destination Chesterfield, called on businesses to ‘get involved,’ ‘collaborate’ and ‘make change happen’ to ensure the town achieves its transformational growth strategy by 2030.

He said: “We have a network of more than 200 businesses, charities and education providers in Chesterfield, known as Chesterfield Champions, and the people in these organisations do so much to support Destination Chesterfield to market the town as a destination to invest, work, live and visit. But if we want to see the town thrive in an increasingly competitive market, we need to do even more collectively. We must collaborate and buy from each other and we must champion Chesterfield outside the area in order to help us bring investment into the borough and create highly skilled jobs.”

Launched on 23 February by Chesterfield Borough Council, key headline targets of the Chesterfield Growth Strategy include:

  • Increasing the number of employee jobs in the borough by 4% (2,000 jobs).
  • Increasing the number of businesses by 12% (400 businesses).
  • Increasing the number of higher value businesses by 15% (100 businesses).
  • Increasing the share of Chesterfield residents in knowledge-based occupations by 15% (baseline Census 21 – 18,000).
  • Increasing the value of the visitor economy by 20% (baseline £163m).

Speaking about the ambitious strategy at the conference, Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said: “Bringing together the public, private and community sectors to champion our borough is key to achieving our ambitions and strengthening the local economy. As a council we have continued to bring investment into the area from central government and elsewhere.

“Earlier this year we announced our success in bringing almost £2.7 million of UK Shared Prosperity Funding into the borough, a comprehensive spending plan is in place that will provide training support, grant programmes for businesses and charities, as well as helping to make further improvements to green spaces, sports and play facilities across our borough.

“We have secured more than £45 million from the government, this will be used to invest in the future of Staveley but also to improve Chesterfield town centre and enhance our appeal to visitors.

“Looking to the future there is more than £2 billion of investment across our borough and this will help ensure that we have a bright future ahead of us but there is still more we can do and working with the Chesterfield Champions we look forward to promoting our borough as the place to live, work, visit and invest.”

As well as being Chair of Destination Chesterfield, Mr Swallow is also Managing Director of Bolsterstone Group Plc, the company leading the private/public £340million Chesterfield Waterside regeneration scheme.

Chesterfield Borough Council’s Growth Strategy will see further investors like Bolsterstone Group and Devonshire Group attracted to the borough which currently has more than £2 billion of regeneration in the pipeline.

The Devonshire Group is behind the future residential development and regeneration of 150 hectares of former industrial land in the Staveley and is also partnering with Chesterfield Borough Council, Chesterfield College and the University of Derby in delivering the Construction Skills Hub. This is funded through the Staveley Town Deal and will provide training, careers insights, and work experience for more than 5,000 learners on a live construction site over 10 years.

In addition to site and bench joinery, brickwork, ground works and electrical installation the Hub will also provide training in green technologies.

The annual Celebrate Chesterfield conference, which was attended by more than 250 members of the town’s businesses community, also saw the launch of the new Destination Chesterfield plan, which will position the borough as a desirable and contemporary destination for visitors, investors and residents.

The new plan places the town’s network of Champions at the forefront, having been recently praised by the UK’s leading place branding, place marketing and place making specialist Thinking Place, as a ‘sales force’ for the town.

Celebrate Chesterfield was sponsored by Chesterfield Champions Addooco IT, University of Derby, Choice Utility and Markham Vale.

Peter Swallow added: “The financial support of the town’s Champions is incredibly important to ensure events such as Celebrate happen. For people to be onboard and contributing actively to the town’s growth and development, then they also must be informed and involved with plans. The lasting and far reaching change we are striving for in Chesterfield cannot be done by one organisation alone; it must be a collaborative effort.”

Nigel Mallender, Head of Sales and Marketing at Addooco IT Ltd, the event’s headline sponsor said: “Addooco are a proud Chesterfield based business and the majority of our Team live in the town. We’re delighted to support the many Destination Chesterfield events and to promote their initiatives wherever possible. They do an excellent job of increasing awareness of our town and in spreading the word on what a great place Chesterfield is to live, work, meet and to run a business. Addooco are committed to Chesterfield and continue to use local suppliers, services and hire local people wherever we can.”

Dan Molloy, Managing Director of Choice Utility added: “I believe that Chesterfield is one of the best places to do business out of. It’s important that the businesses based here support the town and each other, whether it’s through attending and sponsoring events like Celebrate Chesterfield or shopping local. Having a thriving local economy is key to developing conversations with national investors and ensuring Chesterfield continues to grow and develop.”

Adam Doyle, Head of Business Engagement and Employability at the University of Derby which is supporting the Festival of Business Exhibition said: “We were proud to be the partner of the Derbyshire Festival of Business exhibition at Celebrate Chesterfield. The festival plays a key role in continuing to support the business community to innovate and grow, aligned to our aim of raising skills and aspirations across our region. Working with businesses, we are helping to position our county internationally as a place to do business as well as a place to study, live and work.”

A spokesperson for HBD, the developer behind Chesterfield’s hugely successful Markham Vale and a sponsor of Celebrate Chesterfield, added: “Chesterfield is a fantastic place to do business, as demonstrated by the phenomenal growth we’ve seen at Markham Vale and the creation of more than 2,700 new jobs.”

To discover more about the investment opportunities available in Chesterfield visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

tricia gilby and peter swallow celebrate 2023

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

DBC Training launches drive to get more people in Chesterfield ‘apprenticeship ready’

A Chesterfield skills provider is launching a series of skills workshops, aimed at encouraging more people in the town to take up an apprenticeship.

The ‘Get Apprenticeship Ready’ course, being launched by DBC Training will prepare people for the world of work, by helping residents with a range of topics to boost their confidence when applying for roles.

This includes providing details on how to write a stand-out CV, cover letter and application. The training also includes advice on how to perform well in interviews and in the workplace.

The two-day course, taking place on 23rd and 24th March, can be delivered at one of the company’s training centres, and can also be provided remotely.

Commenting on the initiative, Lewis Silcock, Learner Engagement Officer at DBC Training said: “It is SO important to get more young people into apprenticeships, but a lot of young people don’t have all the information to make the right choice for them.

“The skills and experience a young person will gain from doing an apprenticeship will really prepare them for their future career, plus the increase in a young, skilled workforce will benefit local employers massively as they’ll gain a hard working, knowledgeable young person, full of fresh, new ideas, who has been exposed to the workplace early on in their life.

“They will know what it means to have responsibility and will be keen to showcase their skills to their employer. The more skilled young people we have, the more the local area will thrive and motivate the next generation of would be apprentices.”

“There are over 600 apprenticeship standards at all different levels, so there really is an apprenticeship for everyone.”

Chesterfield is the first town in the UK to declare itself an Apprentice Town – demonstrating its commitment to growing the future and careers of young people alongside business and the economy by retaining and developing young talent in the town in order to attract more employers to invest here.

Apprentice Town aims to increase the number, levels and quality of apprenticeships available by raising awareness of apprenticeship opportunities in Chesterfield including traineeships, higher Level Apprenticeships and align these with opportunities emerging in the local economy.

In addition, DBC Training is also carrying out a course aimed at helping people in Chesterfield from a wide variety of backgrounds to boost their mathematics and money saving skills. Multiply will be running later this month, from 13th-16th March.

Lewis added: “The course’s focus is to assist people in saving money from bills to their regular food shop. It will also support people in becoming more energy efficient also helping to save on cost of energy bills with energy efficient cooking methods.

“Multiply also offer insights in hidden labour and jobs markets, tools and services to help you find employment.In addition to this it offers help to improve everyday maths skills which you can apply to various aspects of day to day life. IN the current climate I really believe we can help benefit local people in and around chesterfield.

Find out more about the latest courses on offer with DBC Training at:  https://www.dbc-training.co.uk/

DBC Training supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

multiply dbc

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Development, Home, Made in Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

New Chesterfield hair salon nominated for three national awards

A Chesterfield hairstylist has been nominated for three accolades at the 2023 UK Hair and Beauty Awards, having only opened a few months ago.

Jessica Peprah, owner of Jpepss Beauty, based in the Clocktower Business Centre near Staveley says she is delighted to be nominated, just months after opening the business.

The salon offers a number of specialist hair services which have previously not been offered in many places locally, including a variety of braiding styles.

The three categories Jessica will be in the running for at the prestigious national ceremony are:

  • Best hairstylist of the year
  • Rising star
  • Best new talent

Jessica commented: “I have always been passionate about helping others feel confident and beautiful through my work, and I knew from a young age that this was the career path I wanted to pursue.

“I have honed my skills and developed a strong expertise in a wide variety of hair braiding styles, styling, cutting, extensions and customised wig making.

“The services that I offer are not that common in my area. Most of my clients used to travel to have these hair services done as there was no one offering it locally.”

The business has recieved support from the Vision Derbyshire start-up scheme, which offers grants and advice to businesses starting up in the area. Jessica also believes being located in Staveley has been ideal in helping to grow her business so quickly.

She added: “I absolutely love being based in Staveley. I am very close to the M1 and also very close to town, which makes it so easy for my clients to visit the salon. I have also been getting a lot of support of the community which I really appreciate.”

Looking to the future, Jessica is hoping to continue spreading the word about her unique services in the local area: “There are not many people offering these services in Chesterfield, so getting all the support now will lead to a long-lasting and proper expanded business which the town will love.”

Find out more about the salon on Facebook.

jessica peprah

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

Double award win for Banner Jones at prestigious regional ceremony

The team at Banner Jones Solicitors are celebrating after winning two awards at the prestigious Sheffield & District Law Society Awards.

The event took place on the 17th of February at the historic Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria Hotel, Sheffield. It saw the Employment Team take home the accolade for the second consecutive year.

Banner Jones’ Chief Executive and Head of Personal Injury, Simon Wright, was also awarded Partner of the Year in recognition of his expertise within his field, his dedication to his clients and his continued contribution to the business’s success.

The firm’s conveyancing department, which is widely recognised for its customer service led approach and use of technology, was also shortlisted for the Residential Property of the Year Award but narrowly missed out on the night.

Commenting on the news Banner Jones’ Chief Executive, Simon Wright, said: “The Sheffield & District Law Society Awards provide an opportunity for the local legal community to come together to celebrate our many achievements and successes from across the year.

“It is therefore a real privilege and an honour to have been shortlisted in three categories, and to have taken home two of the awards. Our collective success is a real testament to the hard work and dedication that everyone at the firm has shown over the past 12 months.

“A huge congratulations in particular goes to our Employment Law team, and I am personally delighted to have won the Partner of the Year award.”

This is the second year in a row that the Banner Jones employment team, which prides itself on offering high-quality advice in a user-friendly, cost-effective manner to individuals, businesses, and charities, has won Employment Law Team of the Year.

Commenting on the award win Katie Ash, Head of Banner Jones’ Employment team, said: “We are delighted to have won Employment Law Team of the Year for the second time.

“It has been a pleasure to help guide our clients through the past year and we are very much looking forward to building on those relationships throughout 2023 and beyond.”

Banner Jones supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

banner jones award win

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Popular Chesterfield venue reveals new name, look and menu in major revamp

A well-known Chesterfield bar and venue has undergone a major change with an entirely new name, brand and look – following an extensive refurbishment.

Formerly known as The County Music Bar, Gasoline is excited to be welcoming customers old and new to its revamped premises on Saltergate. The bar has now evolved into an American Style venue, offering a great range of food, music, sport and activities for visitors to enjoy.

Owners Phillip and Lauran Deacon have worked with their team for more than a year on the new look and feel for the venue, and hope to have created a friendly hub for people in Chesterfield and further afield to enjoy.

Phillip commented: “We wanted to create a venue that people could enjoy socially with friends. We developed the idea of an ‘American style’ bar which focuses on the social aspect of enjoying the company of friends and strangers, with multiple types of entertainment.

“We still support live music and will be launching a number of targeted events to help promote new and upcoming bands, as well as supporting local favourites with gigs. We have invested in the latest TVs and projection systems to be able to show a huge range of sporting events and films and also music related items.”

The new features don’t end there either, as Phillip confirmed a host of other games and activities to provide customers with fun and entertainment. He added: “We have arcade machines set up for friends to challenge each other, going back to the bygone age of gaming and enjoying the many retro titles we all grew up with.

“More traditionally. we have a pool table in its own dedicated area and also we have ‘smart’ darts which allow you to connect your smart phone to the board and play multiple fun versions of dart-related games.

“The ever-popular Jukebox provides millions of songs for customers to choose and can even be accessed from the comfort of their seat via smartphone. The atmosphere is relaxed, but we will be maintaining a very controlled and grown-up take on entertainment and environment. We are first and foremost and ‘American Bar,’ and our primary objective will always be the comfort and safety of our customers.”

Gasoline has also begun serving a fresh new menu of classic American dishes, with tacos and wings heading up everything from loaded nachos, loaded fries and even ‘Frickles’ (Fried Pickles). A range of vegan options are also available, including the “Philly Cheese Fake,” which has been a popular choice among guests since the bar’s relaunch.

gasoline bar food

For those brave enough, the bar is home to the “wings of regret” challenge, which requires participants to eat three blisteringly spicy hot wings in an allowed time, and then having to regret it for five minutes afterwards without relief from a drink. Those who complete the task win a gallon of beer for their table and a place on the ‘wall of flame.’

Phillip added that he hopes people in the town and beyond get behind the venture, and support Chesterfield’s independent food, drink and hospitality scene: “We believe it is hugely important that people support their local venues, but we also realised that we had to evolve to create something worth supporting.

“In this current adverse climate, we believe it’s important to give people value for money in terms of a day or night out. We can provide a great, fun environment which means your money feels like it’s going towards an experience. The community deserves exciting new businesses which will help to keep and attract the next generation to our town.

“Chesterfield has so much potential to thrive and grow. With great transport links, we can welcome visitors from outside of the area as well as local communities. We are excited to play our part in welcoming more people to the area.”

Find out more about Gasoline on Facebook and Instagram, and keep an eye out for the venue’s new website, which will be launching in the near future.

If you’re looking to find out more about visiting Chesterfield, from things to do with the family to great nights out, head over to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/

gasoline bar 1

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

Communities in North East Derbyshire set to see local parks and play areas improved

Communities in the North East Derbyshire District are set to benefit from improvements to local parks and play areas under the first round of grants from the Council’s Shared Prosperity Fund programme.

£237,246 in grant funding has been awarded to Barlow, Brampton, Eckington, Holymoorside & Walton, Shirland & Higham and Unstone Parish Councils and Dronfield Town Council to deliver 8 schemes in the first round of the Quality Parks and Play Areas (QPPA) grant scheme.

Supported projects include replacing outdated equipment, adding new pieces of equipment to cater for a wider age range and installing railings and new surfacing which will make these parks and play areas safer and more attractive for local users.

A further £55,000 has also been allocated to match the Council’s Safer Streets Funding to redevelop the Skate Park in Killamarsh.

North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Communities and Communications, Cllr Alan Powell, said: “Parks and play areas are an important part of the community as they provide the opportunity for physical exercise and social interaction between residents of all ages.

“This funding will enhance existing provision and create spaces that can be enjoyed by local people and visitors alike.”

North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Economy, Transformation and Climate Change, Cllr Jeremy Kenyon added: “We recognise the importance of good quality local amenities in our communities.

“This UKSPF investment provides visible improvements that will help future-proof vital local facilities. We will be announcing the outcome of our most recent bidding rounds for our Parks and Play Areas and Village Halls and Community Venues schemes in due course.”

Details of future bidding rounds, including the Shop Front Enhancement Scheme, will be publicised on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund pages of the Council’s website and through its social media.

Chesterfield play park school children

 

 

 

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£100m to be invested in council housing across Chesterfield

Around £100m is to be spent on improving council homes across Chesterfield over the next five years – as part of Chesterfield Borough Council’s continued commitment to enhance the borough’s housing offer and meet the needs of residents.

Councillors agreed to the ambitious Housing Capital Programme at a meeting of full council on Wednesday 22 February.

The Housing Capital Programme sets out the investment priorities for 2023/24 and the medium-term investment through to 2027/28 to ensure that the council can continue to meet the decent homes standard, further improve the energy efficiency of its houses, and provide good quality, affordable and accessible homes for people in Chesterfield.

Modernisation and refurbishment of the council’s existing homes continues to be a key focus of the council’s programme of works throughout 2023/2024.

Over the next 12 months, the council will be delivering improvements to kitchens and bathrooms, carrying out roof and window replacements, and making necessary adaptations to properties to help older people and disabled people to remain living independently in their homes.

Further fire safety improvements will also be made and additional investment will be made to help tackle damp and mould in homes.

The ongoing block refurbishment programme will continue, with more blocks of flats set to benefit from a facelift. Environmental works will also see fences, gates and footpaths upgraded to improve the overall appearance of local neighbourhoods.

As well as investing in its existing properties, the council recognises the need to build and purchase new homes to help meet the increasing need for good quality affordable housing in Chesterfield and replace homes sold through the Right to Buy scheme.

As part of this commitment, the council has committed more than £30m to increasing the housing supply across the borough. This includes plans to build 96 new homes, with housing developments at Middlecroft, Westwood Avenue and Markham Court.

An additional 35 new-build homes are also set to be purchased by the council from developers on Newhall Road and Linacre Road.

In response to the climate emergency that was declared by the council in July 2019, the council is also committed to ensuring that all of its homes are energy efficient – allowing Chesterfield to become a low carbon, resilient and sustainable borough. This commitment will be reflected within all capital projects.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, cabinet member for housing, said: “Our aim as always is to enhance Chesterfield’s housing offer so that people of all ages can find, and live in a quality home they can afford. Our capital programme shows that we are committed to improving our housing stock to ensure it meets the needs of the people of Chesterfield, as well actively contributing to the climate change agenda by ensuring all homes are energy efficient.

“Investing in affordable and social housing has never been as important, so it is vital that we continue to enhance the borough’s housing needs and supply affordable homes.”

badger croft chesterfield

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New Climate Strategy agreed in Chesterfield

A new Climate Change Strategy was agreed at Chesterfield Borough Council’s full council meeting last night (22 February 2023) setting out the council’s strategy to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.

Deputy Leader Councillor Amanda Serjeant proposed the new strategy in front of councillors and members of the public, emphasising the council’s ongoing commitment to tackle the climate emergency.

The updated strategy is building on the success of ambitious work already underway to help the council become a carbon neutral organisation by 2030, and to lay the groundwork for Chesterfield to become a carbon neutral borough by 2050.

In 2019, the council declared a Climate Emergency – and with support from members of the local community created its first Climate Change Action Plan. This plan is now coming to an end, and the council has reduced emissions by around a third (32%) from when it declared the climate emergency in 2019 to the end of the financial year 2021/22.

Chesterfield Borough Council  has achieved a lot in the last four years including a securing £1.5million of funding to improve the energy rating of private rented sector and privately owned homes, making sustainability and climate change a central theme of the latest Local Plan, ensuring all of the council’s energy comes from renewable sources and planting almost 6000 trees.

The new strategy will direct how the council works with industry in the future, ensuring sustainability and climate change a central theme of everything it does.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, deputy leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “We’re working hard to do all we can to ensure we meet our targets for Chesterfield borough. We’re now moving to the next phase of these plans and this updated strategy will underpin our ongoing efforts to achieve our robust targets – ensuring we continue to act now, to safeguard our future.

“Climate Change is the biggest and most important challenge humanity faces globally, as well as in the local area. Carbon reduction is vitally important, and the new Climate Change strategy we have introduced will help towards making significant changes in our progress towards becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2030”.

The strategy was developed using an extended evidence base, including a consultation where residents, businesses and community groups were invited to comment on the new strategy late last year. All the feedback received has been considered and helped Chesterfield Borough Council to finalise the document.

For more detail on this you can access the consultation summary report and the strategy document on the council’s website.

You can also find out more about the council’s progress to tackle climate change, and sign up to the Climate Action Now newsletter, on the council’s website.

PV installation Custom Solar

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Chesterfield is open for business as Council approves new growth strategy

An ambitious plan which sets out a long-term vision for economic growth – including a focus on quality jobs for local people, access to higher level skills, and environmental sustainability – has been approved by Chesterfield Borough Council.

The new four-year Growth strategy (2023 – 2027) represents a long-term commitment from the council to make Chesterfield a thriving borough by strengthening local skills provision, supporting local businesses and further cementing Chesterfield’s role as a visitor destination.

It builds on the success of the last decade which has seen the creation of more than 2000 new jobs and more than 500 new businesses operating in the area, along with significant regeneration and investment across the borough.

The strategy – which was approved at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday 22 February – also has environmental sustainability at its heart, supporting the target of becoming a carbon neutral borough by 2050.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “This strategy is vital to ensuring our borough remains a thriving place to live and work, where everyone has the opportunity to boost their skills, and has access to quality jobs.

“It’s also crucial that we build environmental considerations into our long-term plans, as part of our ongoing commitment to create a sustainable borough for future generations and ensuring we do all we can to reduce carbon emissions.

“The plan builds on our successes over the last ten years including the creation of more than 2000 jobs, and with over 500 new businesses operating in the area.”

The strategy includes five key objectives, which are:

  1. Help businesses to grow and secure new business investment in the borough.
  2. Build a competitive place infrastructure that accelerates employment and housing growth.
  3. Strengthen the distinctive character and vibrancy of our town centres
  4. Develop Chesterfield’s role as a visitor destination and as a base for exploring the surrounding area.
  5. Ensure local people have the right skills to support progression in the labour market and benefit from future employment opportunities.

Councillor Gilby added: “Despite the ongoing economic challenges which are facing towns and cities across the country, Chesterfield is not standing still – we are an ambitious borough and this strategy reflects that. It focusses on higher value growth while balancing our commitment to a greener, more sustainable future.”

Within each of the strategy’s objectives, several key activities have been developed. For example, to help encourage growth the current Innovation Support Programme will continue to run for the benefit of local businesses.

Projects like the Derbyshire Rail Investment Vehicle (DRIIVe) and Construction Skills Hub – both of which are being funded through the Staveley Town Deal – will help deliver new training facilities to ensure local people can develop the skills to access high quality careers.

Regeneration within Chesterfield town centre, including the Stephenson Memorial Hall renovation and Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project will continue to contribute to strengthening the town’s position as a visitor destination and to meet the needs of residents. These are complemented by the HS2 Station Master Plan, the £340 million Chesterfield Waterside scheme and the major PEAK resort development which promises to be a landmark tourist destination within the borough.

The full strategy is available to read on the council’s website here.

town hall drone shot

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