Planning permission has been granted for a development of 59 new apartments in Chesterfield, based in the former headquarters of North East Derbyshire District Council on Saltergate.

Homes By Holmes, who are already working on the site celebrated the official confirmation of planning approval outside the prominent building, with catering provided by local restaurant, The Galleon Steakhouse.

Jamal Khan, Property Research Analyst at Homes By Holmes commented: “We are over the moon and really looking forward to giving this building a new lease of life.

“We have come to learn from talking to many locals that this former council building was a regular stop for the community, as it was the drop in point to discuss various issues with the council, from council tax to benefits and much more.

“We are proud that we are breathing life back into this building and once again it will benefit the local community through providing homes.”

Part of the company’s work to make the building more aesthetically pleasing was to decorate it with floral banners in time for the Chesterfield ‘In Bloom’ competition.

With just a few days’ notice, the team was able to landscape the front of the building facing out onto Saltergate, along with printing new floral banners and removing graffiti.

After being stood vacant for more than four years, the building will undergo a multi-million pound restoration over two years, with the aim of having the first properties available for occupation by around December 2022.

The restoration of the building is expected to bring several benefits to the town centre and surrounding area, including work and job prospects for local businesses in the supply chain, more footfall in Chesterfield Town Centre with residents using the local high street, and an opportunity for people in Chesterfield to get on the property ladder affordably in the face of current housing shortages.