Property and Construction

“Together we can all help bring about lasting change and prosperity to the town”

Destination Chesterfield Chair, Peter Swallow is calling on everyone associated with Chesterfield to ‘talk up the town’ and collaborate further to ensure the local economy continues to thrive in the future.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, we ALL need to talk up the town.

There is more than £2 billion of investment in progress and on the way across our borough to help ensure that we all have a bright future ahead of us. 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.

We all have a role and responsibility to tell people about the many great reasons they should live, work, invest and stay here.

Chesterfield’s geographical position within the UK is hard to beat. We are centrally located with excellent road and rail links and a number of major airports within a 90 minute drive.

Furthermore, the benefits of our proximity to the Peak District National Park should not  be underestimated. Chesterfield is the gateway to this wonderful landscape, and it attracts millions of visitors each year – with around half of them staying overnight and many of them passing through the town to get to the Peak District.

Herein lies our challenge. By talking up the town to friends, relatives, colleagues and suppliers from outside the area, we can attract more people to visit and stay overnight in Chesterfield rather than just passing through, the result being more revenue for the town as a whole.

Increasing the visitor economy of the town by 20% is one of the key targets in the Chesterfield Growth Strategy which has been launched by Chesterfield Borough Council.

By increasing the visitor economy, we will also help create jobs for local people and opportunities for existing and new businesses.

We must all shout about what the town has to offer to holiday makers visiting the Peak District.

Living and working in the town on a daily basis, we can often become complacent about what it has to offer visitors to the area.

We have a variety of places to stay, including the award-winning Casa Hotel, as well as great road, rail and bus links into the Peak District. You can even cycle from the town into the Peak District.

Beyond our world famous Crooked Spire Church and the Brampton Mile, we have two theatres, Chesterfield FC, historic market, restaurants, bars, cafes, boutique shops, live music venues, Queen’s Park – which is host to many wonderful events like the cricket and concerts in summer… I could go on, the list of reasons to visit and stay in Chesterfield are endless.

Having a thriving local economy is key to developing conversations with national investors and ensuring Chesterfield continues to grow and develop. If we want to see the town thrive in an increasingly competitive market, we need to do more collectively. We must champion Chesterfield outside the area in order to help us bring investment into the borough and create highly skilled jobs.

Together we can all help bring about lasting change and prosperity to the town which will benefit local people now and future generations.

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Project announced to restore Chesterfield Canal’s missing link at Renishaw

A disused section of the Chesterfield Canal is set to be restored for the benefit of local residents, visitors and wildlife.

The mile-long section in Renishaw, which lies close to the original canal alignment, is land-locked and virtually empty of water.

Chesterfield Canal Trust is set to work alongside Derbyshire County Council on the project, which will improve the area visually, increase biodiversity and bring more opportunities for recreation.

Work is needed, subject to planning permission, to make the structure watertight and rebuild the overflow-weir so it is ready to connect to further sections of the canal when they are restored. A temporary pumping system would need to be installed to supply water from the River Rother to the canal and the towpath resurfaced to make it suitable for pedestrians and cyclists.

Further work is also proposed to resurface a further 915 metres of towpath to provide a circular 2.5km surfaced route incorporating the Trans-Pennine Trail. And new picnic benches, signage and cycle stands would also be installed.

The original canal was completed in 1777 and stretched 46 miles in total, providing navigation between the River Rother at Chesterfield and the River Trent at West Stockwith in Nottinghamshire. The section in Renishaw was rerouted in the 19th century with the building of railways.

This latest project – which is being carried out by the council and the trust as part of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership – is part of a wider ambition to make the whole route from Chesterfield to Kiveton navigable with nine miles yet to be restored.

Peter Hardy, Chair of Chesterfield Canal Trust, said: “We know that local residents are keen to see the re-watering of the canal around Renishaw and this project has been made possible thanks to the close cooperation between the trust and Derbyshire County Council. It’s also thanks to the enthusiasm of local people who will join with us to create an area they will be proud of for walking, cycling, fishing and watersports.

“The improvement in biodiversity and an increased sense of wellbeing will undoubtedly follow the completion of the works, which we anticipate will start this summer.”

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

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60 acres of land to be used for nature conservation in Chesterfield

60 acres of land has been secured by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust for a major project to improve nature conservation in Chesterfield.

The charity says the ‘Wild Whittington’ project has been enabled for local people to enjoy nature, thanks to overwhelming support from the public, generous grants and philanthropic loans.

The piece of land at Old Whittington, to the north of Chesterfield, is set to be rewilded, becoming a place of major importance to nature, and to the people of Chesterfield and Derbyshire.

Wild Whittington has been acquired through a mixture of investment in nature, including donations from Derbyshire wildlife Trust supporters and The John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust in response to the Defend Nature appeal.

The site connects St Bartholomew’s woods to the south and Grasscroft ancient woodlands to the north. These woods join to Unstone and then down into the valley of the River Drone. Using rewilding, the plan is to create varied habitats to bolster a vital corridor between the woodlands and support nature’s recovery in Chesterfield and the surrounding areas.

Matt Buckler, Director of Natural Solutions at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said: “We are so grateful for the incredible response we had to our appeal to secure this land from our members, the public, and our generous major donors.

“Here in Derbyshire, we want to take action to restore nature now. Quite simply, turning land over to rewilding projects is one of the most effective ways to get resilient nature back in people’s lives, and it would not be possible without the support we receive.

“The purchase is not only good news for wildlife, its great news for local residents and visitors to the area too. We can’t wait to turn this piece of land into an oasis for wildlife for future generations to enjoy.”

Wild Whittington

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£275,000 project completed to reduce flood risk and boost wildlife habitats in Chesterfield

An innovative new flood management project designed to reduce flood risk in Chesterfield through natural defences, while boosting local wildlife and habitats, has been completed at Grassmoor Country Park.

The £275,000 scheme, designed to slow the flow of rainwater heading from land to the Calow Brook – and onwards into the Rover Rother includes the creation of temporary and semi-permanent ponds, marshy grasslands and wet woodland – all acting as a natural flood defence while improving and diversifying the habitats for wildlife within the park.

Funded by the Environment Agency and the Heritage Fund, the project was developed in partnership with Derbyshire County Council which owns and maintains the park, the Environment Agency, the Friends of Grassmoor and Don Catchment Rivers Trust.

Natural Flood Management schemes such as this are a sustainable way of using nature to manage flood risk. The work done at Grassmoor will also work to increase the availability of water within the landscape during times of drought, providing vital lifelines for wildlife and plant life, the need for which has been made abundantly clear last summer.

Its successful completion was marked with an event at Grassmoor Park on Wednesday 15 March. Members of the public were also welcomed with a site tour showcasing the new green spaces, habitat improvements, and natural flood management techniques.

Anthony Downing, Catchment Coordinator in the Environment Programme team at the Environment Agency, said: “This scheme is a shining example of the huge benefits of using nature to manage flood risk – and at the same time creating new habitats for wildlife to thrive and spaces that people can enjoy.

“We are facing a climate emergency and are determined to ensure we work with nature to be resilient and adapt. This project has been a great collaboration effort and certainly something we want to see more of in this area.”

Peter Myers, Project Coordinator at Friends of Grassmoor Country Park, said: “We are very proud to have played our part in supporting and working closely with Don Catchment Rivers Trust and Derbyshire County Council to deliver this scheme from the very early stages through to its successful outcome.

“The natural flood management measures are of course the key elements, but we are also very grateful for the inclusion of the significant wildlife habitat features, improvements and the environmental benefits that the scheme brings to our park. We look forward to the continued co-operation to see these elements develop and flourish in the coming years.

“On behalf of present and future generations who will benefit from this investment, thank you to all who have made this possible.”

Rachel Walker, Operations Director at Don Catchment Rivers Trust, said: “The main works were finished last October and the features have been working well over winter, holding water and slowly releasing it back into the Calow Brook. We’re really looking forward to seeing the meadows grow and the features blend into the park over spring and summer. Our thanks to all the volunteers who have joined in to help sow seeds, plant trees, and monitor the site – we will be continuing with the citizen science programme to chart the changes in the park over the coming years”.

Volunteers have been an invaluable asset to the scheme which has included lots of local community involvement such as sowing meadow seeds and helping to plant trees. Opportunities to volunteer for the project are still available with dates in April for sowing and planting.

Attenuation Pond at Grassmoor Country Park

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Work begins to refurbish former Chesterfield register office

Redevelopment work has started on the former register office in Chesterfield, which will provide a new home for talking therapies in Chesterfield.

Beighton Construction are overseeing the 14-week refurbishment at the building on Beetwell Street for charity Derwent Rural Counselling Service.

The company will carry out roof works, an internal strip out, a new damp proofing system and new electrics.

Inside the refurbishment project will include plastering, internal walls, decoration and floors plus new toilets and a lift with a view to the building opening this summer, and an official launch event in September.

Andrew Holmes, director at Beighton Construction, based in Chesterfield, said: “The works have started externally with scaffold erection, followed by the installation of new perimeter gutters by the roofing team.

“Internally, once the strip out works have taken place, the basement will be prepared for a new damp proofing system and structural alterations will be made to various walls and the first floor in readiness for the new lift.

“New floor screeds and plaster repairs will be carried out through the building, including the construction of new partition walls. Mechanical and electrical works will also run alongside the building works for the duration of the project.”

Final plans for the three storey premises, set to open in summer 2023, include office space, treatment and consulting rooms, meeting rooms and relaxation space to help cope with an increased demand for DRCS services in the area plus tenanted options including rooms and floorspace.

Janette Smeeton, chief executive at DRCS, said: “I am pleased that we are now moving forward on this important scheme that will be the largest building housing talking therapies in the county, and know the people of Chesterfield and beyond will benefit from having high quality facilities in the heart of the town.

“Restoring and reintroducing the building to community use will give it a new purpose, and allow us to deliver a high-quality service to support our service users, and offer room rentals and services to other organisations in the town.”

Over the last 30 years, DRCS has become the largest third sector provider of counselling services in the region offering help to individuals, via self referral or via a GP, with common mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress and long term conditions through counselling, CBT, guided self-help, and other forms of talking therapy.

In the last eight years, DRCS has been in partnership with Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation Trust to improve access to psychological therapies throughout Derbyshire achieving above national recovery rates and shorter waiting times.

Find out more about regeneration taking place across Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/

DCRS Former register office

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Charity makes Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre its new home

A Chesterfield-based charity has got a brand-new home in the heart of the town.

CP Teens UK, which was founded in 2013 by Chesterfield based Ellie Simpson, has moved to the recently-opened Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre on Saltergate.

The charity, which provides ‘help, hope, inspiration & friendship’ to children, young people & beyond with Cerebral Palsy & similar physical disabilities both locally & nationally, was founded by Chesterfield’s Ellie Simpson, who has Cerebral Palsy herself.

Ten years on, the charity is moving to the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre as it continues to grow & expand.

Ellie said: “It’s such an exciting time for CP Teens UK – we celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the charity in October, and I feel that this move & opportunity to be based at the Northern Gateway has come at the perfect time as we continue to grow and reach more youngsters & their families.

“The facility is perfect for us as it’s so accessible, it’s a great location & it will enable us to build our initiatives, infrastructure & visibility in ways that we couldn’t before”.

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

CP Teens UK delivers a whole host of events & initiatives that help young people with Cerebral Palsy and similar physical disabilities feel connected, supported & empowered. The
charity holds a lot within the local area, including its annual Ball at the Casa Hotel. Events & initiatives are also held nationwide bringing young people & their families together across the country.

CP Teens UK is run by Ellie herself on a day-to-day basis, alongside a small team of volunteers. By having an accessible & bigger base, CP Teens UK plans to recruit more office-based volunteers, provide work experience days for local physically disabled youngsters, make more partnerships and connections with both like-minded organisations & local businesses, and continue its growth & expansion.

Since opening in Summer 2022, the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has proven a resounding success for the town, attracting new investment to the area and helping indigenous businesses to grow and expand. Well over half of the space available has already been let since the opening of the centre.

To find out more about the wide range of quality office spaces currently available in Chesterfield, go to our ‘Find Your Perfect Office’ page.

For more information about CP Teens UK’s initiatives & services, or if you are a local business wanting to support CP Teens UK visit www.cpteensuk.org, or email office@cpteensuk.org

CP Teens

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Business park in Chesterfield with ‘great location’ goes up for auction

An investment opportunity has been made available in Chesterfield, with a business park which is already home to a number of tenants set to go under the hammer in early April.

The First Stage Business Park in Chesterfield, which is home to multiple light industrial businesses, has been put up for auction with a guide price of £1.1m. The business park will be included in the next online property auction held by Sheffield firm Mark Jenkinson, now part of Eddisons, on 4 April.

Comprising 17 light industrial units, the multi-let 3.3 acre site produces an annual rental income of over £109,000 and is home to a number of local companies. Metal finisher First Stage Machining; garage and repair shop Autofit; and MR Emergency Medical Services, which provides an independent ambulance service, medical cover for events and first aid training courses, are among current tenants.

Adrian Little, director at Mark Jenkinson, said: “This is a well known business park that’s in a great location on the outskirts of Chesterfield and close to junctions 29a and 30 of the M1. Occupancy levels remain consistently high and all 17 units are currently fully occupied, making this a fantastic investment opportunity.”

Bidding on the First Stage Business Park, and the other lots in Mark Jenkinson’s online property auction, opens at 9am on 4 April and closes from 12pm the same day. To view the full catalogue, go to www.markjenkinson.co.uk  

Mark Jenkinson is now part of property group Eddisons after it was acquired by the Leeds-based firm, which has 25 offices across the UK, earlier this month.

Find out more about the range of benefits associated with investing in Chesterfield, including the town’s ideal location, collaborative business community and quality workforce: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

Mark Jenkinson & Son supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

First stage business park

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Chesterfield reveals ambition to increase visitor economy by £32 million

Ahead of English Tourism Week 2023 (17 – 23 March), Chesterfield has announced its bold ambition to increase the value of its visitor economy by 20% by 2030.

A 20% increase in tourism will bring an additional £32 million into the economy annually helping create jobs for local people and opportunities for existing and new businesses.

The town will build on its heritage, retail and leisure offering as well as its proximity to the Peak District National Park, to increase the number of overnight stays in the town.

As part of its drive to attract people to visit and stay in the town, the town’s inward investment marketing campaign Destination Chesterfield has appealed to businesses and residents to ‘talk up the town’ within their networks and help attract visitors.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “Chesterfield has an excellent offer for visitors, as well as the town’s close proximity to one of the most visited National Parks in the world. There is an opportunity for us to attract more people to visit and stay overnight in Chesterfield using the town as a base rather than just passing through on their way to the Peak District.”

The Peak District currently welcomes more than 13 million visitors annually with 83% of these arriving by car. Attracting some of these visitors to stay in Chesterfield and using its bus and rail links to visit surrounding areas, including major attractions like Chatsworth House, will not only benefit the borough’s economy but also support the Park Authority’s Sustainable Transport Action Plan.

Additionally, there are cycle paths into the Peak District, the border of which is just five miles from the town centre.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire praised Chesterfield’s ambitions, saying: “Tourism already plays a vital role in making the area such a brilliant place to live, work and visit, and we strongly support Chesterfield’s ambition to grow the value of its visitor economy even further.

“The tourism sector generates billions of pounds for the local economy each year, supporting thousands of local jobs and displaying huge potential for future growth, particularly in areas such as sustainable and active travel, which Chesterfield can really capitalise on.

“Growing and developing the town’s tourism offer will not only benefit local businesses, it will also have a positive and lasting effect on local residents and communities. We look forward to working with partners in Chesterfield to support them in achieving this goal and ensuring the visitor economy’s long-term success.”

Mark Thurman, Managing Director of Casa Hotels which owns and operates two four-star hotels in the borough, urged people to ‘celebrate what we’ve already got,’ saying: “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We have wonderful accommodation, great restaurants and fantastic transport links to bring people to Chesterfield to then go and explore the surrounding area. We don’t need to do anything other than celebrate what we’ve already got.”

The town’s proximity to the Peak District has already attracted major investment to the borough including the £300 million PEAK, an all-year-round round leisure education, wellness and entertainment destination. PEAK’s masterplan has been developed around a transport and mobility system connected to the National Park. Phase one of the development, Gateway at PEAK, which is being developed by Milligan is expected to be completed in 2025.

celebrate 2023 visitor economy panel

Experts discuss Chesterfield’s visitor economy at Celebrate Chesterfield 2023. (Left to right: Jo Dilley – Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, Phil Bramley – Derbyshire Times, Mark Thurman – Casa Hotels, Jimmy Drew – Derbyshire County Cricket Club)

The town is already home to the award-winning Casa Hotel and further hotel accommodation is planned within the £320 million Chesterfield Waterside scheme located close to the close to town’s mainline train station. The developer, Bolsterstone Group Plc, is in talks with major hotel brands to operate the proposed 120-bed hotel within Phase 1 of the scheme. The new hotel will be a further addition to the popular 92-bed Premier Inn Hotel which was opened within the Elder Way development in the town centre in 2019.

Increasing the visitor economy of the town is one of the key targets in the 2023-27 Chesterfield Growth Strategy which was launched by Chesterfield Borough Council on 23 February. In addition to growing the visitor economy, key headline targets, 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)

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We are already a fantastic visitor destination but growing our visitor economy strengthens growth across the borough, it leads to more people supporting our local businesses and town centre. This will in turn create new jobs and opportunities for our residents. To do this we need to work closely with our partners to promote our town, we have excellent transport connections, fantastic accommodation choices and our proximity to the Peak District puts us in a very strong position to bring more people to our town.”

Peter added: “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. By doing this, there is a real opportunity to build a thriving visitor economy in the town.”

Chatsworth Country Fair

Chatsworth Country Fair – Image by Chatsworth House Trust

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Chesterfield borough’s parks, green spaces and play areas set for £1.32m boost

£1.32 million is set to be invested in Chesterfield’s parks, green spaces and play spaces as part of new five-year plan to further improve facilities for local people.

The Parks, Open Spaces and Play Delivery Plan (2023 to 2028) sets out Chesterfield Borough Council’s commitment to making sure local communities continue to have access to modern and well-maintained spaces for leisure and play, and to support people’s health and wellbeing.

Approved by the council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 14 March, the plan builds on the significant investment in parks and green spaces over the last five years – and also sets out measures to help achieve the council’s target to create a carbon neutral borough by 2050.

Over the course of the five-year programme, communities will benefit from 18 enhanced youth and play spaces, and the council also aims to double the number of its sites that are acknowledged by the prestigious Green Flag Award – an international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Projects to be delivered over the coming year include:

  • Improvements to play areas at Stand Road Park, Highfield Park, Ringwood Park, Cottage Close, Devonshire Avenue North, Thirlmere Road and Tapton Park.
  • The full renovation of the circular footpath at Poolsbrook Country Park which, at 165 acres, is Chesterfield’s largest park with miles of trails, extensive woodland plantations, meadows, lakes, children’s play areas and wildlife habits.

As the delivery plan progresses over the next five years communities will also see improvements to youth and place spaces at Pennine Way, Hartington Recreational Ground, Wickins Place, Stanford Way, Barnes Road, Heathervale Road, Manor Road (youth), Somersall Park (youth), West Crescent, Damon Drive and Canal Wharf.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Chesterfield boasts a range of fantastic parks, play areas and green spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy and we recognise just how important and valued they are for everyone in our communities.

“We also understand that having an opportunity to play and explore the outdoors is hugely important for developing both physical and social skills, so we want to provide as many opportunities for residents to do this as we can.

“It’s our aim to create a variety of sustainable spaces that provide people of all ages and abilities with accessible, quality, and fun opportunities for play.

“We are really proud to provide good quality parks and play spaces in our community, and this investment will help us to continue to achieve this. Last year was a record-breaking year for us, with five of our parks being recognised with the prestigious Green Flag Award – and we’re hoping to double this over the next five years so more of our spaces can be formally acknowledged.

“Last year also saw our beautiful green spaces, colourful floral displays and innovative community projects earn the borough a top accolade in the prestigious East Midlands In Bloom competition. We were officially crowned the winner of the ‘Small City’ category in September, the first time we have scooped the sought-after award and we can’t wait to build on this success over the next five years.

“Our parks and green spaces were a lifeline during Covid-19 and have continued to offer opportunities for people to walk, play and chat. As loneliness is reported to be on the increase, our green spaces are a vital resource in the drive to combat loneliness and isolation.”

The views of local people have helped shape the council’s plan for investment, following a public consultation on two new strategies – the parks and open spaces, and play strategies – last year. The aim is to make sure local facilities meet the needs of local communities now and in the future.

The Parks, Open Spaces and Play Delivery Plan is being part-funded by £158,500 from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

It will also draw on funding from a range of sources including the Community Infrastructure Levy, section 106 agreements and Landfill Tax grants.

More information about plans for specific sites – and what improvements local people will benefit from – will be shared as the projects progress.

Queen's Park

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Work begins on new leisure centre in Clay Cross

Work to build a new leisure centre at Sharley Park in Clay Cross has begun, as the £24m transformation into North East Derbyshire District Council’s new Clay Cross Active leisure hub gets underway.

The new low carbon, low energy leisure centre, Clay Cross Active, will be a community hub, supported by Sport England, combining Clay Cross Clinic and Citizens Advice with leisure facilities. These facilities include a large gym, swimming pools, TAG Active, café, studio space and other activities.

Works have started on site and the first major change is the cordoning off some of the car park to the rear of the facility to enable site cabins and demolition works to be undertaken.

Construction is due to last approximately 24 months and during most of this period, Sharley Park Leisure Centre will remain partially open with visitors still being able to use its fitness suite and pools, however the squash courts and sports hall are now closed for the new build.

Fitness classes can still be attended by residents, and are now split between Sharley Park Leisure Centre, The Bret Club, Holmgate Community Centre, Pilsley Village Hall and Coney Green Business Centre.

“We’re thrilled to start works on the ground of the new Clay Cross Active Leisure Centre,” said North East Derbyshire District Cabinet Member for Leisure, Cllr Alan Powell.

“This is just what Clay Cross needs, after lots of consultation with our residents who said the old centre needed updating we are proud that works are now starting on site, building a facility that is state of the art and will be enjoyed for many years to come, delivering excellent facilities for all to enjoy in a safe environment.

Vice-Chair of Clay Cross Town Board, Charlotte Cupit, said: “We have worked extremely hard to deliver this amazing new facility for the residents of Clay Cross and the surrounding area and we’re delighted to see it start to come to fruition. As the shovel is now in the ground, delivery of the excellent ‘Clay Cross Active’ is getting closer.

It will be a fantastic facility for all to enjoy and is just one of many exciting new projects coming to the town as part of the £24 million Clay Cross Town Deal.”

clay-cross-active

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‘Substantial’ public support for regional devolution plans

There is substantial support for regional devolution plans in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, according to the results of a recent consultation on the proposals.

Local leaders are backing devolution to promote economic growth, secure more investment in our area, for more and better jobs, and for better transport, skills training, housing, and an enhanced greener environment. It would also mean more power in local hands.

Thousands of people took part in the consultation, which took place from November 2022 to January 2023. It was open to residents, businesses, community and voluntary groups, and other employers in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham.

There were 4,869 responses to the consultation overall, from members of the public and people answering on behalf of an organisation. The number of responses was higher than similar consultations on devolution in other areas.

The majority backed the proposals:

  • 53% agreed with the proposals for transport, compared to 35% disagreeing.
  • 52% agreed with the proposals for skills, compared to 32% disagreeing.
  • 51% agreed with the proposals for reducing carbon and improving the environment, compared to 33% disagreeing.
  • 51% agreed with the proposals for public health, compared to 33% disagreeing
  • 46% agreed with the proposals for homes, compared to 39% disagreeing

The only area which was more balanced was in terms of the proposals for governance, with 42% agreeing and 45% disagreeing. Comments tended to centre around the need for a regional mayor. Having a regional mayor is a condition set by the government for a level 3 deal, which offers the most powers and highest funding.

The government has offered new powers to Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham, along with at least £1.14 billion of funding, through the proposed creation of an East Midlands Combined County Authority. A formal proposal was developed, outlining how devolution would work in the area, which was the focus of the consultation.

Historically, the East Midlands has often been an area of low government funding, compared to many other areas of the UK. If the proposals for devolution go ahead, a guaranteed funding stream of £38 million a year for 30 years could help to reverse this trend.

Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “It’s very encouraging to see the broad support for these plans to bring in £38 million a year and move major decision-making to the people who best know our communities, rather than Westminster.

“I’m pleased that so many residents and organisations came forward to give their views about the East Midlands devolution proposal, and I’d like to thank everyone who took part.

“Clearly there was less support for an elected mayor which I fully acknowledge. The reality is, to obtain the greatest powers and highest levels of funding from the government to benefit local people, an elected mayor is a condition of that deal.

“I firmly believe that by working together across traditional boundaries – and an elected mayor would play a key part in that – this devolution deal will help us attract more investment to our region, better support businesses, upskill our workforce, develop our infrastructure and improve public health.

“The councils involved are now working together on a final devolution proposal. I can assure everyone who took the time to take part in the consultation that their views will be central to shaping our thoughts to the government.

“At the heart of this devolution deal is a desire to seize every opportunity to improve people’s lives across our region by making sure we get a fair share of government funding.”

The leaders of Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council, and Nottingham City Council all signed up to work on a devolution deal in August 2022 at Rolls-Royce in Derby, following an announcement from the Government that a package of new powers and funding, worth £1.14 billion, were available for the 2 counties and 2 cities.

The 4 councils then worked on a more detailed proposal, including more information about how devolution would work in our area, which was the focus of the consultation.

Many local organisations support devolution for the area. Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “Our region is home to a wide range of fantastic businesses, from industrial powerhouses with household names to university spin-outs that boast vast potential, and everything in between.

“What they now need is the political apparatus that removes any obstacles to national and local decision-making, enhances our ability to attract investment and ultimately creates a more business-friendly environment.

“This would help them to take strides forward in productivity and innovation, enabling firms to drive the economic growth that creates jobs and wealth locally.”

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “We are delighted that the authorities within the East Midlands are working to secure a deal for a combined authority. This should provide an opportunity to present a compelling case to central government for more levelling up funding that can be spent strategically to improve productivity and the number of highly skilled jobs across the region.

”It will also enable universities, and other providers of skills, innovation, and business support, to work collaboratively with a single group ensuring spend on regional development delivers the best value for money.”

If all 4 councils vote to accept the results of the consultation, and move forward with the process, a final version of the devolution proposal could then be sent to the government.

Legislation to make the new form of Combined County Authority legal could go through Parliament later this year, which would then need to be approved and receive Royal Assent. This could happen in early 2024.

A new East Midlands Combined County Authority could then officially come into existence in spring 2024, with the first ever election for a regional mayor,  covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham, taking place in May 2024.

A future mayor would be held to account by elected representatives from county and city councils in the East Midlands, as well as a scrutiny committee. The mayor would be directly elected by residents in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham.

 

Chesterfield town centre views outdoors

 

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