Property and Construction

Construction work on new theatre and museum begins

A multi-million-pound refurbishment of Chesterfield’s theatre and museum has officially started on site.

The project will create a new state-of-the-art cultural venue in the heart of the town centre.

The refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall home to both the Pomegranate Theatre and Chesterfield Museum includes the creation of a single entrance to both facilities, an expanded theatre, a reconfigured museum, community spaces and a new café bar. The project is led by Chesterfield Borough Council.

Leading Midlands construction firm G F Tomlinson took control of the site in November and will now work to deliver the enhanced building along with improvements to Corporation Street.

Initially announced in 2021 following a funding commitment from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, the project has been in development ever since. The Museum and Theatre closed in 2022 to allow preparatory works to begin including the removal of asbestos, ground investigations and a strip-out.

 

 

A landmark building in our town and a place where generations of Chesterfield residents have created lasting memories

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “Since closing in 2022 we’ve been very busy behind the scenes both preparing the building for renovation and finalising the plans with our partners including our fantastic architecture team to ensure our ambitions can be realised. I’m delighted that G F Tomlinson have now begun work on site to deliver this project for our residents, we look forward to working closely with them over the next few years and keeping everyone updated on progress within the building.

“This is a landmark building in our town and a place where generations of Chesterfield residents have created lasting memories. This project seeks to protect this building for the future but also enhance the visitor experience which will encourage more people to attend shows and visit our museum.

“This ambitious project will benefit both our community and our economy – we are committed to investing in the future of our borough, to ensure it can thrive for years to come and has first class facilities for both residents and visitors to enjoy.”

 

Artist Impression of the Cafe Bar at the Stephenson Memorial Hall

Transforming the building into a landmark state-or-the-art facility

Chris Flint, managing director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We’re delighted to be commencing the delivery of the multi-million-pound refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall to revitalise this high-profile building into a cultural venue and tourism hot spot in Chesterfield.

“Works will include enhancements to the Corporation Street site, transforming the building into a landmark state-of-the-art facility in the main town centre. Once complete, we look forward to the opportunities that this will bring to the local area, in terms of its arts and entertainment offering – with its expanded theatre, reconfigured museum, improved community spaces and café bar.”

Demolition work on the Stephenson Memorial Hall

Celebrating the history of the building with a modern twist

The refurbishment of the Grade II listed Stephenson Memorial Hall aims to celebrate the history of the building but with a modern twist. The new Corporation Street link gallery extension will create a gateway impact improving the sense of arrival to Chesterfield. At night these elevations will illuminate the street scene, ensuring the building looks vibrant at all times of day.

By reopening the historic doorway under the tower, we will create a grand one-building entrance befitting the new combined cultural venue and encourage visitors to explore both aspects of the building.

From this entrance, visitors will be able to enter the welcome foyer with access to a museum exhibition space featuring the historic builder’s wheel, a retail space, the auditorium and a relocated café bar.

Upstairs four new Museum spaces will allow for the story of Chesterfield and the people that made the town what it is to be told. A climate-controlled room will allow more of the Museum’s collection to be displayed and interactive activities will help new audiences engage with the Museum.

Plans aim to enhance, expand and modernise the theatre without compromising the atmosphere and historic features. The auditorium will be refurbished with new seating, increased capacity, improved sight lines and new environmental controls. New theatre systems including lighting and stage rigging creates a contemporary theatre experience whilst the new seating layout retains the intimate feel of the auditorium.

Artist impression of the museum at the Stephenson Memorial Hall

A Privilege to be entrusted with the challenge of refurbishing and transforming such a significant part of the history of the town

The designs for the building have been developed by leading architectural firm Bauman Lyons.

Guy Smith, director of Bauman Lyons, said: “We are delighted to have been collaborating on this project with the wider design and client team over the last few years. It is a privilege to be entrusted with the challenge of refurbishing and transforming such a significant part of the history of the town so that it can continue to play a role for the community for years to come.”

The updated building will also improve accessibility with the addition of new lifts, new seating options in the theatre and a new changing places toilet.

In Autumn 2021 Chesterfield Borough Council received almost £20 million from the Government’s Levelling Up fund. A portion will be used to deliver the council’s Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield Project which aims to improve connections across the town centre and create attractive public spaces to support a range of events and markets.

Around £11 million of the Levelling Up Fund grant funding will be used to fund the £17 million renovation and remodelling of Stephenson Memorial Hall.

The project received a further funding boost with £695,000 from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme which will be used to install a ventilation system in the auditorium and create a new Changing Places toilet.

The project is expected to be completed before the end of 2025.

Information about the project and updates as work progresses are available on the council’s website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/revitalise

Stephenson Memorial Hall

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Home, Leisure, Property and Construction, Visiting

COP 28: Chesterfield firms encouraged to continue prioritising sustainability

A sustainability expert is continuing to encourage firms in Chesterfield to prioritise sustainability, following the recent COP 28 climate summit.

The message comes as Chesterfield Borough Council also reiterates its commitment to its climate strategy, which aims to create a carbon-neutral borough by 2050.

Emma Knight-Strong, Founder of Chesterfield Champion, Green Arch Consulting, advises firms of all sizes on how to cut their emissions, whilst growing their organisations in the process.

Following the summit, which took place in Dubai, Emma has given her thoughts on the event: “There has been a lot of negativity surrounding COP28 but it’s important to look at some of the broader messaging around the conference – both from the conference itself but also from the wider business, finance, reporting and NGO communities.

Emma Knight-Strong Green Arch Consulting

Emma Knight-Strong, Green Arch Consulting

“It is clear that these annual conferences lead to increased scrutiny on environmental practices, irrespective of any potential policy changes. Moving forward, companies should anticipate a heightened focus on sustainability, potential regulatory shifts, and the need to align with evolving climate goals. Adapting to emerging sustainability standards and fostering eco-friendly practices can enhance your business’s resilience and reputation, making it logical to ensure that you incorporate sustainable strategies into your business operations.

“Prioritising sustainability is crucial for businesses for several reasons. Firstly, it addresses growing environmental concerns, fostering a positive corporate image and meeting stakeholder expectations. Secondly, sustainable practices often lead to operational efficiency and cost savings in the long run.

“Thirdly, as global regulations evolve, businesses adhering to sustainable principles are better positioned to comply with changing standards. Finally, consumer preferences are increasingly shifting towards eco-friendly products and services, making sustainability a strategic advantage in the market. In summary, integrating sustainability is essential for reputation, efficiency, regulatory compliance, and staying competitive in the evolving business landscape.”

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the summit, Chesterfield Borough Council has been reflecting on how its climate strategy supports both national and international commitments.

The council declared a climate emergency in 2019, and since then the organisation’s emissions have fallen by 36 per cent – driven by actions such as switching to renewable energy, using greener vehicles, making council homes and buildings more energy efficient and changing the way green spaces are managed.

Councillor Martin Stone, cabinet member for climate change, planning and environment, said: “COP 28 is an important step to tackling climate change on an international level but it is important to understand how action taken at the local level here in Chesterfield contributes to global change. One of the key commitments at COP 28 was to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems – this is something the council has been working towards, with the switch to renewable electricity supplies and using new technologies like heat pumps in new build council properties.

“Historically the UK is one of the worlds leading emitters and we should lead by example, it is vital that councils like ours take the steps necessary to reduce emissions and contribute to meeting our national targets.”

The council’s refreshed climate change strategy (2023 to 2030) which focusses on key areas which have the biggest impact on carbon emissions, including building use, transport and energy – and builds on the achievements of the previous strategy which was adopted in 2019.

Find out more information about the council’s work to tackle climate change on the council’s website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/health-and-environment/weather-and-climate-change/climate-change

Green Arch Consulting and Chesterfield Borough Council support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

town hall drone shot

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More new openings at Vicar Lane as centre reaches over 90% occupancy

As it heads into the all-important festive period, Vicar Lane will have over 90% occupancy rate in time for Christmas, with five new openings at the scheme this year.

The centre team’s new leasing strategy has involved targeting local independent businesses to re-enliven the previously struggling street, Steeplegate, as an independent quarter. This has led to three new independents acquiring space at the scheme this year.

Two tenants have moved from Market Hall in Chesterfield to the centre to expand into bigger units. For sustainable toy shop, The Little Ark, this has resulted in a 200-480% increase in sales week-on-week. For Spirits & Beer Specialist, Street Spirit, their opening day saw 300 visitors come to the store and it has been positive ever since with a large increase in visitors to the shop compared to their shop in Market Hall.

Coffee shop, Coffee #1 officially opened on Thursday 30th November in the prominent unit by Vicar Lane’s event space on St James Square. They serve a range of hot drinks, coffees and pastries, which has proven very popular with the local community.

Two clothing stores also opened at the scheme. Vintage clothing store, Y Not Vintage opened in June and designer clothing store, Brand Runner opened on 2nd December.

These recent openings will see over 90% of units filled by the end of 2023. This includes two units which have been utilised for Vicar Lane’s Christmas campaign. One unit has been transformed into a Winter Wonderland Christmas Grotto and another has become Santa’s Elf Workshop where an Elf Training Academy and festive crafts take place.

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager said “I am delighted in the interest in Vicar Lane, both from visitors and potential occupiers. We have really focussed our efforts on welcoming independents to the scheme this year as well as supporting our current tenants. The management team aim to provide a great experience for everyone here so it’s fantastic to see the hard work and changes have paid off.”

Find out more about shopping in Chesterfield.

Looking to start-up or grow your business? Find out why Chesterfield is the perfect base to help you achieve your ambitions.

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

coffee #1 shop vicar lane

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Year of progress for Chesterfield’s property and construction sector

2023 has been a year of strong progress for Chesterfield’s property and construction sector, with many of the town’s major investment schemes reaching milestones.

Office success

Opened in January 2023, the new office space at One Waterside Place was fully occupied less than 12 months later. The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has also seen success with 80% of office space let by its first anniversary.

Rosewood Wealth Management One Waterside Place

Town centre investment

These new hubs are encouraging further inward investment in our town centre, boosting jobs, and increasing footfall to support other surrounding businesses. One example is the apartment hotel planned opposite the Enterprise Centre. The £1m Holywell Hotel by Voeberg will boost overnight stays in our town for both business and leisure, supporting the town’s ambitious growth strategy.

At the Chesterfield Investment Summit back in October, we heard about the investment going into town centres across the borough. Almost £9m will be spent on improving Chesterfield town centre, with a revamp of the marketplace and key points of interest around the heart of the town, and a £17m project has begun to remodel and refurbish the Stephenson Memorial Hall – extending the Pomegranate Theatre and modernising Chesterfield Museum.

Stephenson Memorial Hall

Investing in skills

In addition, Staveley’s high street will see a £6 million boost which will transform the area and make our town a more attractive proposition for visitors and businesses in the retail and food and drink sectors. The funding is part of a £25m deal to spend on 10 regeneration projects for Staveley, including the restoration of Chesterfield Canal up to Renishaw, Hartington Industrial Park, which has now been levelled, a modern rail innovation and training centre at Barrow Hill, which invited tenders at the end of 2023, and the Construction Skills Hub.

I’m delighted to see the new mobile Construction Skills Hub now operational, initially at Mastin Moor, helping to bring forward the next generation of talent in the sector. We know that firms are currently facing recruitment issues due to a skills shortage. So, we are all excited by the prospect of 5,000 learners being trained right here in Chesterfield between now and 2030. I can only speak from experience when I say that a career in property is a truly rewarding and exciting one!

Students learning construction skills at Chesterfield College

It was also fantastic to see the latest plans for The Gateway @PEAK revealed at the Chesterfield Investment Summit, bringing an all-year leisure, education, wellness, and entertainment destination to our town, further cementing Chesterfield’s credentials as a base for exploring the beautiful Peak District.

Partnership working

Throughout this year, Chesterfield Property and Construction Group members have played an important role in increasing partnerships between the public and private sectors. The group has consistently focused on 5 key themes. These include town promotion, skills and talent development, business engagement, addressing the climate emergency, and providing support to the Local Authority’s endeavours in supporting the town and the property sector.

In 2023, the group tailored its activities to deliver tangible outcomes, including:

  • Property Forums: Providing updates on the latest market activity to local property businesses.
  • Activity at UKREiiF: Group members attended the event in Leeds, which is seen as one of the UK’s largest investment shows. The group, alongside Destination Chesterfield, officially launched the Chesterfield Investment Prospectus and championed the town during panel discussions and networking sessions with sector colleagues.
  • Careers Made in Chesterfield: 11 businesses participated in workshops at Parkside Community School to showcase the range of careers available within the industry to 110 students. This resulted in 14 high-quality placements for young people to learn about the property and construction sector.
  • Skills and Talent Masterclass: Facilitating discussions among key figures from property and construction, alongside skills and training providers, to address the sector’s skills challenges.
  • Quality and Sustainability Masterclass: Exploring sustainable development in Chesterfield and emphasizing its importance for the town’s future.
  • Regular Social Media Activity: Highlighting key industry updates on topics such as skills, sustainability, and diversity, and promoting town developments.
  • Networking and Social Events: Including walking tours and brewery visits to support business-to-business relationship development.

Casa hotel conference room

The group, part of Destination Chesterfield, will continue its focus on building resilience and collaborating to support Chesterfield’s economy. Chesterfield remains an attractive destination for investment. We look forward to strengthening existing relationships, as well as forging new ones, and adapting to the evolving needs of the town.

Professionals within the Property and Construction Sector keen on learning more about the group’s plans are encouraged to reach out to Destination Chesterfield by email.

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Chesterfield Borough Council agrees new partnership with University of Derby

Chesterfield Borough Council and the University of Derby have signed a new strategic partnership agreement to establish a closer working relationship and recognise shared ambitions between the two organisations.

The agreement was officially signed by Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, at a ceremony in Chesterfield Town Hall on Monday 11 December.

The strategic partnership agreement sets out three joint ambitions:

  • To establish Chesterfield as a University town – delivering higher level skills and education for our people and employers.
  • To work jointly with business partners, education providers and the public sector to deliver world leading research that drives innovation, provide world class facilities to meet the needs of our community and establish a platform to help our entrepreneurs reach their potential.
  • To use our combined assets, within community partnership across Chesterfield, to raise people’s aspirations through delivering effective core skills, careers information, support and advice.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “I am delighted to have signed this agreement with the University of Derby, on behalf of Chesterfield Borough Council. This agreement sets out our joint ambition to establish Chesterfield as a University town. Strengthening higher level skills and education across the borough will bring with it further opportunities for residents, businesses, and support for wider economic growth.

“Working with our partners across the borough we are also ambitious to establish opportunities for world leading research and world class facilities to drive innovation and bring inspirational opportunities for our communities and entrepreneurs, helping everyone to reach their potential.

“I look forward to working closely with the University of Derby over the coming years to help achieve our ambitions of being a thriving borough and improving the quality of life of local people.”

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “As Derbyshire’s only university we take our role working with communities and organisations very seriously, and this Strategic Partnership Agreement underlines our commitment to driving ambition and positive change.

“I am looking forward to seeing the positive impacts of this partnership as we work together to support skills development and improve outcomes for the people and businesses of Chesterfield and the surrounding area.”

The strategic partnership agreement also sets out a series of high level outcomes to which both organisations are committed over the next three years, focusing on the themes of:

  • Health and wellbeing, community, skills and resilience
  • Innovation and research
  • Experiential learning and curriculum design
  • Brand profile and awareness
  • Assets and investment

To achieve these ambitions and outcomes a delivery plan is being developed which focusses on the assets of the University and within Chesterfield borough. It will also identify the resources both organisations can contribute to achieving the ambitions laid out in the partnership agreement.

University of Derby and Chesterfield Borough Council supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Representatives from the University of Derby and Chesterfield Borough Council

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Derbyshire residents set to vote for the first ever East Midlands mayor as devolution gets the green light

Residents across Derbyshire will get the chance to vote for the first-ever East Midlands Mayor next May, after councils gave the go-ahead to devolution for the region.

Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council have each approved plans to create the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), which will come into existence next Spring.

EMCCA is set to bring in around £4 billion of funding for the region, alongside devolved powers for transport, skills and adult education, housing, the environment and economic development.

Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “Our shared vision is for the 2.2 million people who live and work in the heart of the country to be better connected and more prosperous – addressing years of historically low investment in our region.

“Devolution brings much more control over our own area. Rather than many major decisions being made for us in London, local people would have a say in the region’s priorities. This is just the start and more benefits and funding are already starting to flow – such as the Government’s recent announcement of £1.5 billion local transport funding for the new East Midlands Mayor.

“The creation of a new mayoral combined county authority will unlock the benefits of the East Midlands devolution deal and bring improved public services and a brighter future for our residents.”

Plans for East Midlands devolution are similar to those already in place in other mayoral regions, like the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.

The East Midlands devolution deal, agreed with Government ministers last summer, would see Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham benefit from a £1.14 billion investment fund. Other areas with devolution deals have been able to make their funding go even further and have greater impact by leveraging significant private sector investment.

A public consultation on East Midlands devolution, carried out between November 2022 and January 2023, showed strong support for the plans among local residents, businesses and community groups.

In October, 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.

It is estimated that the East Midlands Investment Zone will unlock hundreds of millions of pounds in private investment, creating thousands of jobs right across the region.

Government will continue to work with the proposed East Midlands Mayoral County Combined Authority (EMCCA) and other partners to co-develop the plans for the East Midlands Investment Zone, 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.

All four councils have now agreed to the creation of East Midlands Combined County Authority and the legal regulations around creating this new authority.

The Government will now need take the deal before Parliament, as this is first of a new type of combined authority and it requires new legislation.

If the legislation is passed in the coming weeks it would come into force by March 2024, meaning the EMCCA will officially come into existence.

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

View of the Crooked Spire from above

Image courtesy of Derbyshire Economic Partnership

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Work begins on 22 new council homes in Chesterfield

More than 20 new homes are to be built in Chesterfield – helping increase the number of affordable council homes available in the borough.

The latest project will see the addition of 22 new council properties, located at various sites across Staveley and Middlecroft, as Chesterfield Borough Council continues with its commitment to increasing the number of properties available to families.

Construction of the new-build properties is now well underway after local councillors joined representatives from Fortem Solutions Limited, the council’s main contractor, to break ground on one of the sites and kick-start the project.

The project will see the addition of two three-bed bungalows on Ringwood Avenue and two two-bed bungalows at Court Place, four two-bed bungalows on Wensley Way, two two-bedroom houses on Paisley Close, nine three-bedroom houses on Westwood and three three-bedroom houses at Aston Court.

In line with its climate change strategy, the council is committed to ensuring its properties are energy efficient and these new homes are set to benefit from renewable energy sources.

Each property will be fitted with an air source heat pump for the heating and hot water, whilst solar panels will be installed on the roof with battery storage to generate electricity.

Electric vehicle charging points will be installed on all of the properties to support lower carbon transport options.

Councillor Jean Innes, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “Creating attractive places for people to live is at the heart of what we do and once built, these new properties will provide a welcome addition to our housing stock and let to people on our housing register.

“The number of people on the housing register has risen in the last year as more people look for affordable housing options as a result of the rising cost of living, and we’re working hard to meet this demand by increasing the number of affordable, modern and accessible homes that are available for families in our borough, so we’re really pleased that works are now underway.

“We are fully committed to helping achieve our goal of becoming a carbon neutral borough by 2050 and are working hard to make sure that our homes are as energy efficient as possible and these new homes will help us to achieve this. The measures in place will not only help us towards our target but will also help reduce fuel bills for our tenants.”

Tom Nicholson, commercial manager at Fortem Solutions Limited, said: “We are delighted to commence these works, partnering with Chesterfield Borough Council, delivering efficient new homes in the borough. In our pre-construction interactions, the council has showcased a commitment to clear communication, decisive decision-making, and a shared vision for project success, which shows the true partnership we have developed together over the years.

“Our collaborative, pro-active approach to project planning and engagement has set a positive tone for our partnership. I am confident that the synergy between our teams will contribute to a streamlined construction process, fostering an environment for further effective collaboration and successful handover of these new properties.

“We look forward to the commencement of works, and we are excited about the prospect of working hand-in-hand with the council once again to bring our shared vision to life.”

If you’re looking for a perfect location and quality of life for you and your family, look no further than Chesterfield. Find out more about living in the town here.

Chesterfield Borough Council and Fortem Solutions support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

New council houses CBC Fortem

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New community forest in North Derbyshire set to flourish

Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest has officially set down roots with the first tree being planted as part of the Government-funded initiative to improve access to nature by providing more green space in areas of the county with fewer woodlands.

Councillor Carolyn Renwick, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, planted an oak tree on a countryside site on former colliery land in Glapwell, to mark the start of the forest’s creation along the eastern and southern fringes of the county.

It follows the council’s successful bid to develop one of two new Community Forests – the other being created in Tees Valley – to join the existing network of 13 England’s Community Forests.

England’s Community Forests are located in and around large towns and cities, providing urban, economic and social regeneration, championing green infrastructure and creating high-quality environments for millions of people.

So-called because of its location at the heart of England, Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest will occupy a central position between the National Forest to the south and the Greenwood Community Forest in Nottinghamshire, providing the missing link to join up these two woodland areas.

Trees will be planted on pockets of available land stretching over a geographic area of approximately 289 square miles within communities along the eastern border of the county and areas in the south of the county including:

  • Amber Valley – Alfreton, Somercotes, Heanor, Ripley, Codnor.
  • North East Derbyshire – Aston, Clay Cross, Dronfield, Eckington and Killamarsh, Sutton, Wingerworth, Shirland.
  • Bolsover – Barlborough, Clowne, Bolsover, Shirebrook, Pleasley, South Normanton, Pinxton, Tibshelf, Glapwell.
  • Chesterfield – Birdholme, Boythorpe, Brampton, Brimington, Chesterfield, Loundsley Green and Newbold, Staveley, Whittington.
  • Erewash – Breadsall, West Hallam, Breaston, Horsley, Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Sandiacre.
  • South Derbyshire – Etwall and Repton, Hilton, Melbourne, Sawley.
  • Derby.

The project aims to plant 300,000 trees on publicly accessible land by March 2025, supporting Derbyshire County Council’s ambition to help facilitate the planting of a million trees by 2030.

Councillor Renwick said: “Derbyshire is well-known for being home to the rural villages and rolling hills of the Peak District, but our county is also characterised by communities in former coalfields and industrial heartlands.

“Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest will bring together these urban areas, where more than three-quarters of the county’s population of 797,000 people live, helping to provide more green space for residents on their doorstep, boosting biodiversity, improving air quality and access to nature – which we know boosts people’s health and wellbeing.

“We’re very pleased that Derbyshire has been chosen to create a Community Forest, which will also add value to Derbyshire’s tourism and visitor economy and bring the potential for the growth of new businesses and jobs in the area through nature-led regeneration of industrial landscapes.

“The next stage is to link up with local landowners to look at where we can start planting and encourage groups and individuals to take ownership and get involved in creating woodland havens in their communities to create a positive legacy for generations to come.”

 

Tree planting in Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest will be supported by the England’s Community Forests Trees for Climate fund, part of the Government’s Nature for Climate programme. £50,000 has been awarded to fund initial development work for the new Community Forest.

The forest will be established in three phases with the third phase centred around establishing a new Community Forest Charitable Trust from April 2025 onwards to manage and maintain the Community Forest in the future.

Forestry Minister Rebecca Pow said: “Derbyshire Heartwood Community Forest promises to be a tremendous community asset for the county. Woodlands and trees are the beating heart of so many communities – absolutely essential to supporting our health and wellbeing, alongside being home to some our most unique wildlife.

“The nation’s network of Community Forests play a really important role in contributing to our ambitions to increase tree planting across the country to meeting net zero ambitions, as well as increasing biodiversity. I look forward to seeing the progress as Derbyshire Heartwood Community Forest starts to take shape and become a woodland for generations to enjoy long into the future.”

 

Paul Nolan, Chair, England’s Community Forests, says:  “It’s fantastic that we have two new Community Forests joining our growing partnership, bringing the total number of Community Forests up to 15. Both Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest and Trees on Tees will receive key support from the Government’s Nature for Climate fund through the Trees for Climate programme, helping to introduce more trees to areas most in need.

“Communities in both areas will be both part of the transformation and benefit from the creation of the forests, improving the local environment and connecting more people to nature.”

 

If you are a local landowner with land available to plant trees in Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest area then the county council would like to hear from you, email heartwood@derbyshire.gov.uk for more information.

Heartwood community forest

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East Midlands can ‘lead the way’ in energy transition, Midlands Energy Summit hears

The East Midlands has the potential to “lead the way” in the energy transition to net zero by holding some of the key ingredients – but businesses need more support to make changes right now.

These were two of the headline messages at the Midlands Energy Summit, held by East Midlands Chamber at the University of Nottingham’s Trent Building yesterday (Thursday 30 November).

Speakers from major organisations including Toyota, Uniper, National Grid and the East Midlands Freeport gave an insight into some of the clean energy activities happening in the region, including in hydrogen, nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

A new East Midlands zero-carbon innovation centre, which aims to transform cutting-edge green research at the University of Nottingham and Loughborough University into commercial products, was announced by the Freeport’s chief executive Tom Newman-Taylor at the event – with the Freeport contributing £5m over funding towards the initiative.

East Midlands Chamber director of policy and insight Chris Hobson said: “With three of the big bases for future energy provision – hydrogen, nuclear fusion and nuclear fission – being developed here in the East Midlands, across a range of nationally-critical projects and research that is backed by public and private sector investment, we are leading the way in the energy transition.

“It was fascinating to hear more about some of these plans from the major players in these areas, and the new East Midlands zero-carbon innovation centre is an exciting initiative that taps into these strengths while developing new sectors that will deliver further investment and high-quality jobs for our communities.

“But while the future holds plenty of promise, we mustn’t forget about what we can do here and now to make gains in the green agenda. Toyota is a great example of a company making small adjustments to save lots of energy and while some of these learnings can be passed down through the supply chain, there is plenty more we can do.

“Small businesses tell us they want to make the necessary changes to decarbonise their operations, and many are already taking huge strides forward, but require more support.

“Our Sustainable East Midlands initiative can signpost businesses to funded programmes, events and best practice. More broadly, it’s crucial for businesses, the public sector and universities to work closer together to develop research and roll out new technologies that will help the East Midlands and UK to become a world leader in the net zero economy.”

Midlands Energy Summit - Scott Knowles

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Offices at One Waterside Place now fully occupied

Less than 12 months after completion, all six floors of office space at One Waterside Place are now fully occupied, as new tenants move into the building.

The flagship office development, owned by Chesterfield Borough Council, has welcomed Rosewood Wealth Management and another international company, both expanding their presence in Chesterfield. They join BHP Chartered Accounts and Varley which already occupy space in the building.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and cabinet member for economic growth, said: “We invested in One Waterside Place during the pandemic and it was a key element of our economic recovery. To have now fully let the office spaces within the first year of opening shows how our economy is growing and demonstrates how we can compete with the cities around us to attract both investment and jobs.”

Rosewood Wealth Management is a vibrant local business providing a professional and innovative scope of financial services: a complete financial review through to mortgages, pensions, investments and more. Rosewood has the client at the heart of everything they do.

Shannan Pool-Gorman, director and co-founder of Rosewood Wealth Management, said: “Rosewood is proud to be part of the development at Basin Square. We are passionate about supporting the local area and look forward to playing our part in the next development phase for our beautiful town.”

The development of One Waterside Place was led by local property development and investment firm Bolsterstone Group PLC.

One Waterside Place

Peter Swallow, managing director of Bolsterstone Group Plc, and Chair of Destination Chesterfield, said: “One Waterside Place is a runaway success story having taken less than 12 months to fully let. When planning the commercial element of Chesterfield Waterside at Basin Square, we knew that the proximity of the train station would be a major pull for businesses. It has certainly been the case. We are now looking to deliver the next stages of Basin Square and anticipate similar success.”

One Waterside Place was Highly Commended in the Regeneration and Restoration Project of the Year Award at the 2023 East Midlands Property Dinner organised by Insider Media. It was also Runner Up in the Commercial Development of the Year category at Business Link Magazine’s annual East Midlands Bricks Awards.

One Waterside Place provides bespoke office accommodation for established businesses – offering a modern, high-quality base for ambitious companies looking to grow and thrive in a central and well-connected location.

The 35,000 sq.ft. building delivers Grade A, large floorplate office accommodation, which does not exist elsewhere in Chesterfield. The building incorporates two passenger lifts, raised access flooring, air conditioning, LED lighting, a high-quality entrance foyer, showers, on-site cycle parking facilities as well as an attractive public realm and landscaping.

The building has been designed with sustainability in mind, boasting a BREEAM score of Very Good and an EPC A rating for its energy performance.

One Waterside Place sits within the £75 million first phase of the Basin Square neighbourhood which includes a mixed-use development as part of the £340million Chesterfield Waterside regeneration scheme.

This area will be landscaped to a high-quality standard with the canal basin being at the heart of the scheme, creating a great environment to spend time in on the edge of the town centre alongside a central community hub for occupiers and residents of the Chesterfield Waterside scheme.

The canal basin site has been brought forward with support from the South Yorkshire Combined Authority Infrastructure Fund. One Waterside Place was funded by Chesterfield Borough Council.

Looking for office space to grow your business? Chesterfield has a wide range of premises available to suit your needs.

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

We all have a role to play in training the next generation, says Chesterfield construction firm

With £2 billion of developments in the pipeline, Chesterfield’s vibrant property and construction sector stands as a cornerstone of the town’s economic development.

More than 50 businesses from the sector support local growth through the Chesterfield Champions network. In addition, the town’s Property and Construction Group provides expertise to support the area’s key regeneration projects. As well as encouraging open conversations around the opportunities and challenges facing the industry.

The sector offers an exciting and diverse range of roles, from planning and design right through to project build. Despite this, a complex set of challenges around skills and recruitment still exists. In the East Midlands, 17,500 more workers in the industry by 2027 according to CITB.

Businesses in Chesterfield work proactively to showcase the breadth of careers available in the industry through the Made in Chesterfield scheme, which involves firms opening their doors and offering tours for young people from schools in the town. Since its launch in 2014, Made in Chesterfield has provided more than 3,500 young people with insights into what a career in construction can offer.

Getting involved with Made in Chesterfield for the first time this year is Dalton Roofing, a business which moved its base to Chesterfield around five years ago and has seen continued growth since relocating here. The firm continues to train enthusiastic young recruits as part of that expansion, and its owner is now encouraging more people in his sector to act as ‘positive role models’ to address skills shortages.

Phil Dalton believes the personal touch is key to nurturing up-and-coming talent: “You have to make them believe in themselves to make them the best they can be.”

“As a roofing company, we’re in a very specialist industry. We’ve got 12 teams, and they are all homegrown.

“We send our apprentices to college and have in-house roofing rigs to train them. We’ve got a really good site manager, Paul Stephenson who is an award-winning roofer himself, and he passes a lot on through mentoring our trainees.”

Chesterfield is not standing still in terms of addressing the skills gap. A new Construction Skills Hub is now running in Staveley, giving people access to a live building site to hone their skills and kickstart their careers. The hub aims to boost the sector by training more than 5,000 workers by 2030.

Phil believes that now is a great time for people to get into the sector, despite challenging economic conditions across the UK: “It’s a skill for life. I left school in 1985 and they were tough times, just off the back of the miners’ strikes.

“My parents told me to learn a trade, so that’s what I did. I did roofing for my work experience and went to college to do roof slating and tiling. That has kept me in work all my life. So, I think that it’s important for young people to upskill, re-train and learn a trade.”

Supporting this year’s Made in Chesterfield campaign, Phil says he is looking forward to passing on his passion for construction to the next generation.

He added: “It gives you a sense of pride. The thing about roofing is you can look back on a project and say to yourself ‘I did that.’ Getting into construction is amazing; you can take it anywhere in the world! We now deal with renewables and green construction, focusing on new technologies such as solar panels and rainwater harvesting. Roofing is one of probably more than a hundred different roles in construction alone.”

Looking to the future, Phil believes that all organisations have a role in ensuring the sector has enough skilled people to thrive and grow: “I would say to any business that they need young people, or even slightly older people who are looking to upskill and retrain, as they are the future of our industry.

“As a sector, we need to pass on our skills and wisdom and act as a positive role model. We’ve got to keep training people of all ages to ensure our sector has enough skilled people to survive in the future. There is also a massive gap in our industry for women. We’d love to see more women coming into construction, especially roofing!”

Find out more about how your business can get involved in shaping the town’s development as part of the Property and Construction Group.

Get more information about how your organisation can support Made in Chesterfield.

Phil Dalton Roofing

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

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