Property and Construction

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.

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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

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East Midlands economy shows resilience as regional unemployment remains under 4%

The East Midlands’ unemployment rate has remained at 3.7% for the fourth month running, new figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.

The data, for the period between July and September 2023, means the proportion of working-age people in the region who do not currently have a job but are actively looking for work has been below 4% since the three months to October 2021 – almost two years.

Nationally, the unemployment rate is half a percentage point higher at 4.2%, although the economic inactivity rate for 16 to 64-year-olds – which measures the number of working-age people who have dropped out of the labour market for reasons such as retirement, caring duties, long-term ill health or studying – is 21% for both the UK and East Midlands. This remains above a pre-pandemic trend around the 19% mark.

East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “The fact our region’s unemployment rate has remained at a relatively low level for such a prolonged period is testament to the efforts and resilience of our region’s business community in the face of significant economic challenges.

“Rising economic inactivity has been one of the greatest concerns over the past couple of years as it led to a dwindling labour market, which has restricted capacity – and therefore the ability to grow, raise productivity and bring prices down.

“While this rate remains above pre-Covid levels, it’s pleasing to see this has now come down by about 2% throughout this year, giving firms more room to manoeuvre.

“However, our own research shows there is no room for complacency. Our Quarterly Economic Survey has highlighted a slight growth in the region’s workforce, with 60% of East Midlands businesses adding to headcount in the first quarter of 2023, rising to 62% in Q2 and 63% in Q3.

“Employment prospects look weaker going forward with the proportion of firms expecting to recruit in the coming months falling by a net 8%, amid slowing demand for our region’s businesses products and services from both domestic and international customers.

“Many employers continue to face challenges with filling job vacancies. While 58% of organisations attempted to recruit during Q3, two-thirds (67%) of those experienced problems in finding suitable staff.

“This illustrates how we really need a dedicated Government policy that supports companies to invest in their people, whether that be in upskilling their existing workforce or reskilling prospective employees to fill skills gaps.

“In our regional economic blueprint, A Centre of Trading Excellence: A Business Manifesto for Growth in the East Midlands and Beyond, investment is one of the ‘four Is’ we urge Government to prioritise – and next week’s Autumn Statement provides a great opportunity to address this.

“We have set out a list of policies we believe will make the required difference, including introducing flexible incentives for businesses that invest in staff training and bringing forward the introduction of the Lifelong Loan Entitlement to support retraining and the retainment of an older workforce.

“We must also tailor policies to recognise the diversity of people who are out of work and avoid a one-size-fits-all solution. We would also like to see Government work with businesses to offer support, and share best practice, on what a flexible and inclusive workplace looks like as this is another vital ingredient in enticing people back to work.”

Chesterfield has a quality workforce, and sits between several universities in Sheffield, Nottingham and Derby. Find out more about why our town is an excellent location to base your business. 

Commerce House, East Midlands Chamber

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Clay Cross town centre regeneration becomes a reality as planning decision is approved

Clay Cross Town Board and North East Derbyshire District Council have reached a major milestone in their proposals for the Town Deal’s Town Centre Regeneration, as Planning consent was approved by the Planning Committee on 7 November 2023.

The approval covers several key elements which are:

  • The creation of a new Town Square which will become a public space to be used for markets, seasonal events and as a public forum.
  • Food and beverage and leisure units – the route from Broadleys to the public square to be lined with artisan food companies, leisure operators and cafes and restaurants.
  • The pedestrianisation of Market Street, creating more public space for visitors.
  • Repurposing an existing historic building with the aim of providing a quality food and drink offering and leisure opportunities, directly overlooking the public square.
  • Improving connections through the town by re-opening access between Bridge Street and Market Street.

Further work is also being undertaken by the Town Board to explore the possibility of direct access to a car park via the A61.

Clay Cross Town Board Chair, Lee Barnes said, “I’m overjoyed to see the town centre proposals approved.

“It’s a milestone very personal to me, as a Clay Cross business owner, and someone who has spent a career in regenerating urban areas, so to be able to see the go-ahead for great improvements coming to a town that is local to me, has been a great privilege as Chair.”

Clay Cross Town Board member and North East Derbyshire District Council Leader, Cllr Nigel Barker said, “Following months of hard work and collaboration between officers, members and partners, we’re delighted to see our efforts pay off to earn the approval of a really solid set of proposals that will bring Clay Cross’ town centre into an exciting new era for residents and businesses.”

“Clay Cross has not seen significant investment for many years and to be able to now deliver the news that this project will go ahead and put Clay Cross on the map, bring employment opportunities for our communities and having fantastic facilities and a centre for the town is really exciting. I am honoured to be able to deliver this for all of us.”

Martin Kirkpatrick, Director of Buttress, who have been central to the design of the Masterplan, added “This is good news. The development holds great promise in supporting the Clay Cross Town Board’s vision to provide a vibrant hub for both visitors and business opportunities. The historic buildings within the Clay Cross conservation area, with this investment, are poised to become the heart of the town, offering a catalyst for new and exciting entrepreneurial prospects.”

This decision follows a string of recent Town Deal milestones in recent months, such as launching the Low Carbon grants for businesses and the significant progress of developing the Clay Cross Active leisure facility, in what is set to be one of the most pioneering community assets in the region.

Clay Cross

Birds’ eye view of Clay Cross Town Centre

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Fundraising boost for restoration of Chesterfield Canal

Chesterfield Canal Trust has announced a funding drive to create new community spaces alongside the canal in Staveley, and has received support from AVIVA.

The firm is supporting the Canal Trust’s appeal via its ‘Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund.’ As part of this, the Canal Trust has launched a Crowdfunding appeal and is encouraging people to help boost the area’s regeneration.

AVIVA will kick start the appeal with £500 and will give the Trust £2 for every £1 it raises, up to a maximum of £15,000. This means that if the Trust can raise £7,500, AVIVA will turn it into £23,000, or up to £24,500 with Gift Aid.

The appeal only lasts for six weeks, finishing on 19th December. See full details on the appeal and make a donation.

Restoration works will take place at Hartington. At present there is rough ground and steep slopes, but over the next 18 months a new Trans-Pennine Trail bridge and a new lock will be built, and the canal will be restored.

TPT bridge plans Chesterfield Canal Trust

The Trust wants to create a great canalside environment for people and wildlife around the new bridge, giving nature a head start and creating a suitable setting for the new lock which will be built early in 2025.

It needs to raise funds for 60 Trees (some semi-mature), 200 metres of hedging, 12 benches (including four wheelchair-accessible ones), native wildflowers, signs and information boards, accessible paths and landscaping works.

The new information boards will encourage people to learn about and help tackle climate change and the planting will take this into account.

Rod Auton, Secretary of Chesterfield Canal Trust commented: “Everyone I meet, from local dog-walkers to long distance cyclists, wants us to create proper, well-managed, and safe places to go and enjoy nature and meet friends etc. In return for your donations, we volunteers are committed to help manage these new spaces in future years for the free enjoyment of all.”

Find out more about the restoration of Chesterfield Canal, and other regeneration projects taking place in Staveley.

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

Chesterfield Canal Paddlespots

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Return of Made in Chesterfield to inspire the next generation of manufacturers and engineers

A campaign which aims to close skills gaps in Chesterfield by providing young people with tours of leading manufacturing, engineering and construction businesses is returning for the tenth time.

Made in Chesterfield has already introduced more than 3,600 young people to the prospect of a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) sectors, with more set to gain valuable insights this November.

The campaign, coordinated by Destination Chesterfield and Direct Education Business Partnership and sponsored by Chesterfield College, was officially launched at a celebration event alongside the town’s network of Chesterfield Champions yesterday (Wednesday, 8th November).

Figures published in East Midlands Chamber’s Q3 economic survey revealed that 58% of manufacturers across the region which tried to recruit experienced problems in finding suitable staff. At the same time, Chesterfield Borough Council has forecast that 3750 people are expected to be working in the sector across the borough by 2030.

These figures outline the requirement for a strong, skilled pipeline of talented individuals to secure the future growth of these industries across the town.

During Made in Chesterfield, secondary school pupils will gain access to firms such as Weightron Bilanciai – an international firm that makes industrial weighbridges, Superior Wellness, a hot tub manufacturer listed as one of the UK’s top 50 fastest-growing businesses, and Dalton Roofing, a family-run business operating in Chesterfield’s property and construction sector.

Ivan Fomin, Managing Director at MSE Hiller and Destination Chesterfield Board Member commented: “Made in Chesterfield continues to play an important role in showcasing the wide range of career options available to young people in our town.

“Having hosted several tours at my own business, I’ve seen first-hand how the campaign inspires those thinking about their future options. We know a career in manufacturing can be extremely rewarding, and our sector needs to keep generating a strong pipeline of talented individuals for the future to keep our business and wider economy thriving.”

Julie Richards, Principal and CEO of the Chesterfield College Group commented: “Having sponsored Made in Chesterfield for the past few years I’ve seen the real impact the initiative has. As a stepping stone between student and employer, we are proud to help this campaign inspire young people considering a rewarding career in Chesterfield’s growing manufacturing, engineering and construction industries.

“With work on our new cutting-edge Engineering, Manufacturing and Science Centre due to commence this year and our partnership with the Construction Skills Hub now running in Staveley we’ll continue to equip more local people with the right skills required to build a successful career and help to strengthen the local and regional economy.”

Clare Talati, CEO of Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP) added: “Made in Chesterfield makes an important contribution to the CEIAG (Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance) offer across the area; providing context for learners of the world of work, showcasing local opportunities, and enabling employers to meet potential future employees”.

To find out more about the activity taking place throughout the MADE in Chesterfield programme, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/made/

The Destination Chesterfield Partnership has received £180,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It follows a successful funding bid by Chesterfield Borough Council, to secure £2.69 million worth of funding for local projects.

Made in Chesterfield launch

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