A Chesterfield company which specialises in creating immersive digital experiences has worked to bring a local housing development to life.
Oasis Studio’s EyeSiteView brand creates immersive & interactive CGI for property marketing and sales, with the technology recently being implemented to showcase the William Davis Homes’ Skylarks development in Dunston.
Only a five-minute drive from Chesterfield, Skylarks is a development nestled in the Derbyshire countryside. William Davis wanted to invest in a virtual toolkit that drives engagement from their increasingly digitally-savvy customer base.
Oasis Studio is based just over a mile away from where the development is taking place. The content created by the firm is now being used across the William Davis website, social media and sales centre.
Tony Buck, Associate Director at Oasis Studio commented: “As technology continually evolves, we are noticing an increasing demand from developers and house-builders to be able to start selling their homes much earlier.
“However, to be able to achieve this, buyers also need to feel like they are able to make well-informed decisions in order to make a sizable financial commitment. So, that’s where we come in. Using a combination of VR, AR & CGI, we can allow house buyers to explore sites, houses and even customise their kitchens to fit their requirements, all before any bricks are even laid.”
Speaking on the local linkup with William Davis on the Skylarks project, Tony added: “Chesterfield is obviously the heart of where our business is. We have several employees here who live locally or who have been brought up in Derbyshire, so it’s very rewarding to be able to not only see these developments enhance our surrounding towns but also to be involved in the journey.
“From the initial CAD drawings, our talented team create amazing interactive experiences that really impact the sales of property, so to see all that hard work come to life is very satisfying.”
We are experts in guiding housebuilders through a digital transformation. By creating highly accurate ‘3D digital twins’ of developments before they exist, our 360 Virtual Tours, Active Siteplans and Home Configurators really help bring them to life. Ultimately, it allows house buyers the ability to make well-informed decisions more quickly, and increase those all-important off-site sales.
Oasis Studio supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
Proposals for four key town centre projects in Clay Cross have been approved, supported by the £24 million Town Fund investment.
The Clay Cross Town Board and North East Derbyshire District Council’s proposals have been given the green light by the government this week.
Final details are still to be agreed, but the projects are now progressing and the Council and Town Board are keen to hear the views of businesses and residents of Clay Cross on these transformations.
The four proposed projects of the newly-produced masterplan for the town centre consist of:
Transport and connections improvements (subject to an upcoming consultation) – proposals include providing enhanced parking and access from the A61, improving traffic flow through the town, re-opening Bridge Street from Harris Way and the possibility of converting the one way section of Market Street from Bridge Street to High Street into a pedestrian zone.
Skills and Enterprise zone – renovating the clock tower building (Adult Education Centre) into a hub for learning and business engagement, which also includes a proposal to bring the library into the town centre.
Clay Cross Community/Social area – preserving, restoring and enhancing heritage buildings in the centre of the town, focused on restoring the annex building of the clock tower building and creating a new leisure space fronting onto the proposed new town square area.
Broadleys site – forming a new town square as the heart between other elements of the Town Deal, providing flexible accommodation for start-up businesses in pop-up enterprise units and providing a space for community activities.
Clay Cross Town Board Deputy Chair and North East Derbyshire District Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Charlotte Cupit said: “The £24 million Town Deal is a great opportunity to bring a boost to Clay Cross town centre.
“Through our business forums we’ve been speaking to local shops and businesses to focus on the key spaces and transport improvements needed.
“The aim of these proposed projects is to promote a more effective, cohesive town centre regeneration whilst also preserving some of the fantastic historic buildings we have in the town to create a really good mix of old and new features for our residents and businesses to enjoy.
“We’re really keen to hear the views of residents and businesses on these plans and we’ll be holding various consultations and events over the coming months – please do get in involved and let us know your thoughts.”
North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Economy, Transformation and Climate Change, Cllr Jeremy Kenyon said: “It’s fantastic to get the green light from Government and really get things moving with a more focused plan for Clay Cross.
“We have got some great projects here which will really transform the town, bring investment, jobs and opportunities to the area.”
Behind the scenes, progress has been made in procuring buildings and land, and a more specific design plan is being developed which will reflect the approved refocus.
In addition to the above, the Town Board and North East Derbyshire District Council continue to progress the redevelopment of Sharley Park (with works now starting on site!), reviewing the feasibility of a new Clay Cross train station and developing further projects around decarbonisation of the town.
Work is beginning on a new cycling route which will run from the west to the east of Chesterfield.
Crow Lane in Chesterfield will close permanently to vehicles on 17 February 2023 to allow a dedicated cycle and walking route to the Royal Hospital.
The decision to close the lane was taken by Derbyshire County Council last November, following a public consultation.
Crow Lane is the eastern end of the new cycle and walking route, which will take people past the train station, through Queen’s Park and along Chatsworth Road to the A619 junction with Holymoor Road.
The lane was used by many hospital staff who walked or cycled to and from work at the height of the pandemic, and from 17 February they will once again be able to do this safely.
Work also starts on a further section of the route on 13 February. The Hipper Valley Trail through Somersall Park is being upgraded, which will create a new wider asphalt surface for pedestrians and cyclists to use.
This work will take around 12 weeks during which time the park will remain open to the public. Traffic marshals will ensure safe passage of construction vehicles. As sections of the pathway are upgraded they will temporarily be out of use to the public.
The new walking and cycling route, once completed, will give a real alternative to taking the car for short journeys across Chesterfield, which is for the benefit of everyone who lives, works or visits the town. Fewer car journeys will bring health benefits to the whole town including cleaner air.
The County Council has been awarded £1.68 million by the Government to create the new route and work will take place later this year on further sections.
This was evidenced recently at the town’s Employability and Skills Conference, which saw more than a hundred delegates discuss the current skills landscape in the town.
At the conference, Andrew Byrne, Property Development Director at the Devonshire Group updated attendees on the exciting Construction Skills Hub, which is set to be developed in Mastin Moor.
The hub will provide a live learning environment for apprentices in the town, in order to help them gain vital skills and experience, helping people in Chesterfield build strong careers in the property and construction sector.
In the East Midlands, an extra 17,500 construction workers will be needed from 2023-2027, an annual requirement of 3,500 new workers every year.
We spoke to Andrew at the conference to get his thoughts on the current skills landscape across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, and how local organisations are working to meet the demand.
We’ve heard in recent times a lot about skills shortages in the property and construction sector. To what extent is this affecting the industry?
“One of the problems the property and construction sector faces at the moment, is that its workforce is getting older. We need to begin bringing in the next generation.
“The next generation can help us contribute towards solving the housing crisis, delivering the employment and industrial growth that we want to see in the country, and helping to deliver the physical, social and green infrastructure needed to help us meet that key target of net-zero by 2050.”
What can Chesterfield and North Derbyshire firms do to bring more skilled and talented people into their companies?
“We’ve been here at the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Skills and Employability Conference today (Wednesday, 8th February), hearing from both the education sector and industry about the skills that are needed.
“My key message for people in industry and the property and construction sector, is to get involved!
“It is incumbent on us to actually make a difference, get involved and encourage people into what we do. We should be proud of it.”
For a young person, how rewarding can a career in the property and construction sector be?
“I absolutely love the business that I’m in and I love the property and construction sector. The people I meet, the problems I solve, and the fact that I’m part of teams that build the places that we live, work and play in.
“To come away from a project and know that you were actually a part of it, and that project is going to be there for years to come is a great feeling.”
Tell us about the partnership working taking place locally to encourage the growth of skills in the property and construction sectors.
“You’ll have heard a lot about the work that we’re doing as part of the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group.
In the forum, we launched a pilot scheme for women in construction. That is a mentoring scheme where women who are already in the property and construction business, have been mentoring pupils in years 10 and 11 across local schools in Chesterfield.
The second way we’ve been making a difference is the work we have been doing with Parkside School. Members from the Chesterfield Property and Construction Group have been into the school, carrying out a speed networking session with the pupils to show them the range of careers and projects that we get involved in. We answered some of their questions and tried to light that spark so that they take more of an interest in what we do.
I’d also like to refer to the Construction Skills Hub that we’ve been working to deliver with Chesterfield College, Chesterfield Borough Council and the University of Derby. This will be delivered on-site at Mastin Moor across the course of 2023.
New apprentices will be able to learn the skills that the industry needs at the moment, alongside what the industry is going to need in the future to hit those net-zero targets.”
With a range of regeneration projects taking place in Chesterfield currently, do you feel it’s an exciting time to get into the profession?
“The sector is always exciting, but it is particularly exciting in Chesterfield at the moment because there is so much going on.
There is an awful lot going on in Chesterfield at the moment, so it really is a great time. What I would say though, is that it is always a great time to be getting involved in the industry.
If you’re not building it, you’re usually planning for it or trying to solve the problems that make it happen, so the key thing is to get involved!”
Chesterfield is the first town in the UK to declare itself an Apprentice Town – demonstrating its commitment to growing the future and careers of young people alongside business and the economy by retaining and developing young talent in the town in order to attract more employers to invest here.
A series of short films have been produced featuring businesses from across Derbyshire explaining why they have decided to invest in the county.
Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire Economic Partnership commissioned the clips as part of the Invest in Derbyshire service, delivered in partnership with Marketing Derby.
The service promotes the county as a place to invest and provides support and advice to businesses looking to expand or locate in Derbyshire.
The support provided is bespoke, independent, free-of-charge and confidential.
In promoting Derbyshire, Marketing Derby is supported by local businesses whose own investment and growth stories make engaging case studies for others taking similar journeys and are exemplars as to why the county is a business location of choice.
The filmed ‘talking heads’ include a range of businesses across the county and from various sectors, including several firms in Chesterfield.
Among the businesses featured are Chesterfield Champions MTM Products, Roaring Mouse, Global Brands and Peak Village, which is owned by the Devonshire Group.
The films highlight why the businesses have decided to make Derbyshire their base.
They explain how they benefit from the central location and great connectivity, why the county’s quality of life offer is so important for staff wellbeing and recruitment plans, and how the heritage of innovation still lives on today.
Councillor Tony King, the county council’s cabinet member for clean growth and regeneration, said: “Derbyshire has so much to offer investors. Its unique position at the heart of the UK, together with excellent transport links and quality of life, make our county an attractive place for businesses to locate invest, live, work and stay.
“It’s great that existing Derbyshire businesses are able to share their story, which we hope will give more businesses the confidence to base themselves here.”
Speaking about the new ‘talking heads’ films, Adam Rodgers, inward investment executive at Marketing Derby, said: “It’s fantastic to have the support of Derbyshire businesses in promoting the county, sharing their investment stories and pride in being based here.
“Other businesses who are considering locating and investing in Derbyshire can start to get a flavour of the diverse mix of businesses who thrive here and the people behind them, which helps bring the ‘Invest in Derbyshire’ narrative to life!”
The films are now appearing on Invest in Derbyshire’s social media channels, including Twitter and LinkedIn.
MTM Products, Roaring Mouse, Global Brands and The Devonshire Group support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
A trial of sustainable transport links between Chesterfield’s PEAK Gateway development and the wider Peak District National Park has proven a major success.
A two-week trial launched at the Chatsworth Show and completed during the first week in September last year, was carried out by a group of industry partners working with Peak Gateway Properties. The trial has taken all parties a step closer to creating a zero emission, car-free, Gateway mobility offer.
The PEAK Express will offer visitors access to a hop-on, hop-off service, operated much like a ski pass. Based initially at the PEAK Gateway, a regenerative enterprise and visitor destination planned just outside of Chesterfield, the PEAK Express combines parking, accommodation and services with zero emission vehicles to explore the National Park. The PEAK Express will operate beyond the congested ‘honey spots’ thus opening access to more experiences and attractions without the need for car parking.
During the trial the EV and hydrogen buses were operated concurrently on the same route, at the same time, with the same loads. This is believed to be a world first. The buses were provided by trial partner Toyota Caetano and piloted to various locations across the park by Trent Barton including the Gateway site itself, Chatsworth House, Longshaw, the Hassop Station/Monsal Trail and Chesterfield Town Centre and train station. A mobile hydrogen refueller was provided by the world’s biggest hydrogen producer, Air Products.
One of the most interesting results from the trial was the regenerative effect created by the undulating roads of the National Park. For example, the hydrogen (FCEV) unit regenerated almost half of its fuel use through its braking system.
Here is a summary of the key findings from the trial period:
The trial assessed some of the benefits of car-free mobility within the UK’s original National Park and gathered data on the performance of both hydrogen and EV units operating in the rural setting.
40 people on a single EV or Hydrogen (FCEV) bus represents up to 40 cars potentially being removed from the National Park’s roads.
The trial considered refuelling, energy consumption, cost & customer experience and ride comfort and overall emission savings.
During the two-week trial two busses operated for an average of three hours a day, saving 1.185* tonnes of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere – the equivalent weight of a Toyota Yaris or six polar bears.
72% of people who took part in the trial said they would use the paid for service.
1,244km was covered during the trial between the EV and hydrogen bus
The hydrogen bus used 589kWh of energy and generated 251kWh of energy through its braking system.
The CO2 saving per mile was 1.6kg, based on the trial data when comparing EV/FCEV to equivalent diesel buses.
Jon Hunt, alternative fuels manager at Toyota said; “The iconic, long undulating terrain of the Peaks means electric battery life can be optimised better than in stop start urban landscapes.
“Balancing the availability of charging points, timetabling, optimising journey times, availability of hydrogen and commercial requirements is likely to point to different zero carbon solutions in every national park for services like this.”
A second trial, engaging a broader national customer base, is being planned for summer 2023. The PEAK Express partners are currently considering a range of operators for the trial and the longer-term service.
Four new buildings will be developed at Markham Vale, the flagship regeneration scheme just off J29A of the M1 in North Derbyshire, after planning permission was approved.
The development will see an additional 107,250 sq. ft. of new buildings provided by development partner HBD. This is expected to bring yet more investment and jobs to the area once complete.
The award-winning industrial and logistics scheme will see another six acres developed to deliver the new units, with the potential to create a further 150 jobs at the site on the western side of Enterprise Way.
Sustainability will be a key focus for each of the new buildings, which will be designed to achieve BREEAM “Excellent” and will be available on either a freehold or a leasehold basis.
Richard Hinds, Senior Development Manager at HBD, said: “Markham Vale is one of the region’s most successful destinations for industrial, logistics and warehousing space so it’s great to be able to expand the scheme to meet demand for well-located Grade A space.
“The decision to approve a further 107,000 sq. ft. is testament to the longstanding partnership between HBD and Derbyshire County Council and our commitment to continuing to progress crucial regeneration schemes like Markham Vale when the economic outlook is more challenging. We are currently in discussion with several occupiers looking for bespoke design and build units and expect work to start on site in the second half of the year.”
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, Councillor Tony King, said: “This marks the beginning of another exciting chapter for Markham Vale which continues to prosper despite the difficulties of the current financial climate. We look forward to welcoming more businesses bringing more jobs in the future.”
Find out more about the Markham Vale development, along with all the major regeneration projects taking place across Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/
A powerful collaboration between Chesterfield’s public, private and education sectors – working alongside Chesterfield Borough Council – is set to roll out two initiatives which will address skills shortages within the construction sector.
The initiatives – Careers Made in Chesterfield and the Construction Skills Hub – were showcased at the annual Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference, held on 8 February at The Winding Wheel Theatre.
Currently being piloted with Parkside Community School, the Careers Made in Chesterfield initiative aims to deliver careers support and guidance in schools and also forge links with businesses within the local construction and property sector. Already, the initiative is reporting increased interest in construction careers from the pupils who have been involved with the pilot.
Mr Riggott, Headteacher, Parkside Community School, said: “The Careers Made in Chesterfield pilot represented a step change in creating sustained connections between our Year 10 students and some great local companies. Our students loved it!
“This model is fantastic for a number of reasons. Perhaps most importantly, students build their knowledge of and relationships with employers across the programme, which in turn enhances their confidence and the likely outcomes of work experience following an extremely informed choice.
“I am a huge believer in the power of schools working closely with local companies in this way. As a school leader, I have seen first-hand the transformational potential of such partnerships, including through the hugely successful Avenue School Challenge in 2019 which led to apprenticeships for a number of our students following the programme. As a parent, this year I have also seen one of my sons begin a degree apprenticeship with the company with whom he completed work experience back in Year 10.”
Careers in Chesterfield has been supported by the Chesterfield Property and Construction Forum, which is led by Andy Dabbs, a Chartered Architect and Board Director at Whittam Cox Architects. Members of the Forum have delivered in-school talks, hands-on activities, and workshops to raise awareness of the sector and jobs and roles available within it to the entire Year 10 group at Parkside Community School.
Mr Dabbs said: “Collaboration between businesses and schools is crucial in addressing the skills shortage in the property and construction industry. The Property and Construction Forum’s involvement in the Careers Made in Chesterfield pilot is a prime example of the importance of creating pathways for young people to enter the sector. Without these efforts, the industry’s growth will be hindered, both regionally and nationally.”
Subject to funding, Chesterfield Borough Council will work with partners to roll out the Careers Made in Chesterfield initiative to more schools and sectors across the borough from September 2023.
Mr Riggott added: “Chesterfield schools, the College, other education providers and businesses have a real opportunity to work with Chesterfield Borough Council and sector forums on programmes like the Careers Made in Chesterfield project and to shape wider skills planning for an exciting future for our young people. We are very much looking forward to being part of that work.”
Both locally and regionally, the construction sector is suffering a skills shortage. In the East Midlands an extra 17,500 construction workers will be needed from 2023-2027, an annual requirement of 3,500 new workers every year.
Cllr Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “We’re proud to support and strengthen partnerships between businesses, education, and the public sector, by bringing together these sectors we can help ensure that young people receive the training and support they need to develop great careers in Chesterfield. This is all about ensuring that our borough continues to thrive and that the quality of life for local people is improving.
“We’ll continue to proactively support initiatives like this conference and Careers Made in Chesterfield because they really do help ensure young people can have the best start to their careers and can then stay and progress in Chesterfield. Developing skills though is not just about helping young people and our new Construction Skills Hub will help people who want to retrain and access careers in construction.”
Toby Perkins MP for Chesterfield and Staveley, and Shadow Minister for Skills and Further Education, said: “It was great to hear how much commitment there was to apprenticeships and the value of careers guidance to open young people’s careers. I would encourage more businesses to investigate opportunities to take on apprentices and for learners to consider whether an apprenticeship might be for them.
I was also glad to explain how our proposed reforms would improve careers guidance and increase apprenticeship opportunities.”
Further addressing the increasing construction skills shortage within Chesterfield, the Construction Skills Hub in Mastin Moor will welcome learners from autumn this year.
Funded through the Staveley Town Deal, the skills hub will provide a practical platform for construction training, careers activity and work experience on a live construction site.
Initially the Skills Hub will provide training in site and bench joinery, brickwork, ground works and electrical installation but in time the offer will expand to include training in retrofit and green technologies. It will be open to school leavers and other residents seeking to train or retrain.
The Hub will provide training, careers insights, and work experience for more than 5,000 learners over 10 years.
Chesterfield College with support from the University of Derby have been appointed to deliver the training. It will be delivered in collaboration the Devonshire Group, which is bringing forward a new housing development in Mastin Moor.
Speaking at the conference Principal and CEO of the Chesterfield College Group Julie Richards said: “We firmly believe in providing the skills and experience necessary for a successful career to support the local economy we serve. We must work in collaboration with local employers and other stakeholders. As such, we’re delighted to be part of a variety of significant local projects such as partnering with Devonshire Group for the Construction Skills Hub servicing Staveley and surrounding areas.
“The unique initiative provides a huge variety of work-based training opportunities on one of the largest housing developments in local history delivering qualifications from Entry Level to Higher Education progression in partnership with the University of Derby.
“To provide a pipeline of highly skilled workers for years to come the hub has a firm focus on skills for the future and will deliver both traditional trade skills alongside cutting edge methods of construction including low carbon technologies.”
The annual free-to-attend conference, which aims to strengthen links between education providers and businesses, was organised by Chesterfield Borough Council and Destination Chesterfield, with support from Derbyshire North Careers Hub. It was attended by businesses, schools and education providers in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
Businesses and schools that wish to register their interest in the Careers Made in Chesterfield initiative, are urged to contact Emily Williams, Skills Delivery Officer at Chesterfield Borough Council on 01246 959717.
Pupils from Whittington Green School welcomed delegates to the conference
A new leisure centre is set to be built in Clay Cross, which will be developed on the site of the current Sharley Park Leisure Centre.
North East Derbyshire District Council has been granted planning permission for the new leisure centre – Clay Cross Active, with works set to commence in early 2023.
The new centre will be a low carbon, low energy building and a hub for the community. Along with the 100 plus gym space, soft play, swimming, café and TAG Active facilities, there will be the addition of North East Derbyshire Citizens Advice and other services, all nestled within the new building.
Whilst works are underway, the gym and swimming pools will remain open. However, so that works can be started, the fitness studio, sports hall, spinning studio and squash courts are closed.
Built by the Council’s development partner, Alliance Leisure, the new facility is expected to open in winter 2024 and is funded through the Clay Cross Town Fund and North East Derbyshire District Council and partners.
North East Derbyshire District Cabinet Member for Leisure, Cllr Alan Powell said, “We are delighted to get planning permission for the new leisure facility at Clay Cross and are excited to start work on site.
“The current facility is old and dated and our residents have said they wanted a new facility which will bring the community together, and we are delighted to say this will be happening imminently.
“With climate change at the heart of all our decisions, the centre will be low carbon, have solar PV and air source heat pumps and will be an asset to the community, bringing tog/ether other services to make a real hub for Clay Cross.
Clay Cross Town Board Deputy Chair and North East Derbyshire District Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Charlotte Cupit said, “We are delighted to get the go-ahead for this amazing facility for all the community to enjoy. We listened when you said you wanted a new facility and this will be just that and more with other partners involved and it will be a real hub for the community for years to come.
Julia Goddard, Senior Business Development Manager at Alliance Leisure said, “Alliance Leisure’s role in the project is to deliver a leisure and wellbeing facility that the local community can be proud of. Having delivered over 200 leisure developments across the UK we are bringing this expertise to our delivery of Clay Cross Active. Our team will be assisting at every stage of the project and look forward to seeing the new centre open in 2024.”
Whilst the site will be staying partially open, current leisure centre members can also use the other three centres in the district as part of their membership deal.
A new walking and cycling route is set to be developed in Staveley, which will connect Markham Vale to the existing cycle route in the town.
The £750,000 investment is part of a wider £7 million fund announced by the government, which will improve a number of areas across the East Midlands region.
The funding which has been given the green light is part of an early investment offered to our area as part of devolution negotiations. It is not dependent on devolution proposals going ahead.
It is part of £18 million on offer from the government to the region for investment in different projects supporting local priorities, which relate to housing, the environment, infrastructure, skills, and transport in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham
The programmes which are being funded are:
£750,000 for a new cycling and walking route in Derbyshire, a 1¼ mile link connecting Markham Vale to the existing cycle route in Staveley.
£1.5 million for the new roundabout on the A6 at Fairfield in Buxton, Derbyshire, allowing access to housing development land. The roundabout provides access to sites for 461 new homes, including 30% classified as affordable. It also brings work to an area of social deprivation. This work has been completed, with the funding which has just been approved going towards the cost.
£1.5 million for a new growth through green skills. The investment will enable the creation of a new £5.4 million flagship skills centre and low carbon demonstrator in our region, to be operated by West Nottinghamshire College, as well as two electric minibuses for getting students to and from the site, to support the growth of a future low carbon economy as we work towards net zero.
£2 million for a new long-term private rental scheme to address homelessness in Nottingham City and Derby City and reduce the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for housing.
£1.22 million for more affordable housing in Derby city, where there is currently a shortage, to provide 15 extra social houses to be let at an affordable rent. It will mean less reliance on temporary bed and breakfast placements and shorter waiting times for longer-term accommodation.
Other regeneration and net zero projects are also in the pipeline, with decisions on these expected soon.
Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council have been working with the Government on devolution plans including a package of local powers and funding worth £1.14 billion, from 2024. If the plans go ahead, it would also mean a new regional mayor.
The leaders of the 4 councils signed up to work on a devolution deal on 30 August this year at Rolls Royce in Derby. Since August, the councils have developed a more detailed proposal, which includes more information about how devolution would work in our area. The proposal was the subject of a public consultation, which took place from 14 November 2022 to 9 January 2023.
Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “The approval of these projects is a solid example of the benefits that devolution are bringing to our region.
“These schemes will make a measurable difference to people’s quality of life through opportunities to gain new skills, environmental and health benefits from walking and cycling, better housing and new infrastructure.
“This is the East Midlands levelling up, and finally getting the benefits that we have missed in the past.”
Devolution would mean a new guaranteed funding stream for our region of £38 million a year over a 30-year period. Covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham, the devolved area would cover around 2.2 million people, making it one of the biggest in the country.
The devolution deal includes an extra £16 million for new homes on brownfield land and control over a range of budgets like the Adult Education Budget, which could be better tailored to the needs of people in our communities.
The regional mayor would lead a new combined authority, which would include representatives from existing local councils, with decision making powers and resources moving from London to the East Midlands. Local businesses would also have a voice, as well as other organisations.
Devolution would not mean scrapping or merging local councils, which would all continue to exist as they do now and would still be responsible for most public services in the area. The mayor and combined authority would instead focus on wider issues like transport, regeneration, and employment across both cities and counties.
The public consultation on devolution, open to residents, businesses, community groups and other organisations, took place from 14 November to the 9 January.
Chesterfield’s MP and the Shadow Minister for Skills and Further Education recently paid a visit to NIBE’s newly refurbished Training Academy in the area.
Toby Perkins MP met with NIBE’s Managing Director Phil Hurley, where they held discussions on the role of heat pumps in decarbonising the economy and the need to upskill the installer base to meet net zero targets.
Mr Toby Perkins was also given a tour around the firm’s latest heat pump products and smart solutions. The refurbished training centre will provide for increasing the available heat pump installer base in the UK.
Mr Perkins’ visit provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of upskilling the new generation of installers and engineers on the route to net zero – and the drive needed to meet the government’s target of 600,000 heat pump installs per year by 2028.
The Shadow Minister for Skills & Further Education commented: “I was delighted to visit NIBE’s new training academy and very pleased that they have chosen to further invest in Chesterfield. Green investment is vital to the future of our economy and our ability to meet our Net Zero commitments and fight climate change.
“The development of new technologies, such as advanced heat pumps, also requires the development of new skills in the workforce. The NIBE training academy will help provide the next generation of skilled engineers in this sector and provide vital new job opportunities locally. I look forward to watching their progress and hope to come back and meet some of the people who have been trained here in Chesterfield.”
The NIBE Training Academy in Chesterfield is currently taking bookings for best-in-class comprehensive installation, commissioning, and servicing and maintenance courses, alongside the NIBE Pro installer partnership scheme, providing MCS & NAPIT recognised and Ofqual regulated training and technical support.
The visit follows the academy’s grand re-opening in December, where NIBE was joined by The Worshipful Mayor of Chesterfield Tony Rogers and his wife Mayoress Sharon Rogers for the unveiling. Attendees got the chance to gain greater insight into the low carbon training opportunities available as NIBE called for a growing installer base.
NIBE Managing Director Phil Hurley said: “It was a pleasure to once again meet our local Chesterfield MP, Toby Perkins, on Friday and to show him around our flagship Training Academy. We held productive talks on the vital need to expand the heat pump installer base in order to meet Government installation targets and how our products will contribute to producing more sustainable heating across the country.”
NIBE supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
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Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Preference cookies are used to store user preferences to provide content that is customized and convenient for the users, like the language of the website or the location of the visitor.
