Chesterfield blog

Chair’s blog: “It has been delightful to see so many people attending events”

As summer draws to a close, I wanted to reflect on some of the fantastic activities which have happened in our town over the last few months…

It has been delightful to see so many people attending events, bringing local communities together and supporting our independent businesses.

Back in June, we saw some fantastic cricket as Derbyshire played host to Yorkshire at Queen’s Park, with Derbyshire coming out victorious in front of a fifth successive sell-out crowd.

The Chesterfield Canal Festival also saw more than 8,000 people visiting Staveley. It is brilliant to hear of the work Chesterfield Canal Trust is carrying out with partners to restore the canal and the Staveley basin.

Elsewhere, Chesterfield’s reputation for having one of the biggest and best Pride festivals in the region was once again showcased, with more than 5,000 attendees enjoying ‘90s boyband, A1 and rapper Tinchy Stryder.

The first-ever Chesterfield Children’s Festival proved a hit with youngsters, with silent discos, comedy clubs, theatre workshops, and more. It is wonderful to see that our town is providing a quality leisure offer for people of all ages.

One of the events which really stirred emotions was the Sparkle Night Walk, in aid of Ashgate Hospice. A record 3,100 people took part, raising over £150,000 for a charity which I know is dear to so many in our area. A big well done to everyone who got involved.

We also saw the first-ever Peddler Market in Chesterfield, which was welcomed to the town centre with resounding success. It was great to see people enjoying quality food and drink from the traders, including Chesterfield’s own Pizza Pi! I can’t wait to see its return on the 15th and 16th of September.

I’m excited to see how Chesterfield’s programme of events continues to develop in the coming years, with upcoming regeneration in our marketplace set to create a more communal and social space in the heart of the town. Somewhere you will enjoy sitting and chatting with family and friends.

Plans for next year include a new market layout with modern stalls, more seating, better lighting, and refreshed paving. This will all provide the flexibility needed to host events regularly in the town centre, providing that much-needed footfall for our independent shops, bars, and restaurants. The regeneration will go ahead thanks to £25m of funding, secured by Chesterfield Borough Council, with the market being just part of a major project that will see several improvements to our town centre, including the Stephenson Memorial Hall. Who knows what fun awaits once all the work is completed!?

I hope that we can all continue to support our local events, businesses, and people. By doing so, we can make a huge impact on the future economic growth of our area by attracting more visitors to stay here, more families to live here and more businesses to invest here.

Peddler Market

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Summer, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Chair’s blog: “Businesses certainly see strong benefits to investing and growing in Chesterfield”

Creating vibrant town centres continues to be a priority for Chesterfield.

Like all towns across the UK, we know we must evolve to attract more residents, workers, and visitors to spend time in our high streets.

At the beginning of summer, I wrote about many exciting festivals and events taking place locally. All encouraging you to make memories with your loved ones and to support our shops, eateries and leisure businesses.

This month, I am highlighting the successes of the new office spaces in Chesterfield town centre. Developments like these are bringing hundreds of new jobs to the heart of our town. Exactly what we need to increase the footfall from Monday to Friday.

The new offices are proving popular – thanks to their attractive location, as well as being energy efficient. In less than a year after its opening, the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre is now more than 80% full. Meanwhile, several more firms have expressed a strong interest in One Waterside Place, following the two floors that have already been snapped up.

Furthermore, it’s fantastic to see a full refurbishment now completed at The HQ. What used to be the Royal Mail offices – set adjacent to Queen’s Park – has been transformed into an exciting hub for businesses to thrive.

Quality office spaces continue to be promoted by Destination Chesterfield, with the next marketing campaign underway, targeting firms looking to relocate and grow. I’m pleased to say that almost 3,000 enquiries have been made over the past five years for business premises, keeping Chesterfield Borough Council’s economic development team very busy!

Businesses certainly see strong benefits to investing and growing in Chesterfield, with over 3,000 enterprises now operating here.

But we won’t stop there. It is Chesterfield’s aim to attract a further 100 higher value businesses by 2030, generating more higher wage jobs for local people. This will be complemented by new educational facilities in Staveley, giving people the chance to learn advanced skills in sectors such as construction and rail.

Looking ahead to October, the Chesterfield Investment Summit is a key annual event that allows us to showcase our strengths to inward investors and growing businesses. Returning to Casa Hotel on Wednesday 18th October, it will highlight the wide range of regeneration taking place across our area, whilst explaining the benefits of locating your business here.

This year’s event will focus on quality and sustainable housing, the Gateway at PEAK – which will be an exciting new visitor destination, and the latest progress on Chesterfield town centre’s upcoming £20 million transformation… I’ll be writing more about that in the next post!

As we look towards the future, I have no doubt that Chesterfield will continue to build on its strong foundations and thrive as a top destination for visitors and investors.

Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Development, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

‘We want to continue our collaboration to achieve Chesterfield’s ambitious plans’ 

Destination Chesterfield Manager, Dom Stevens highlights how partnerships in both the public and private sectors continue to push forward the town’s extensive range of regeneration projects. 

I have spent this week at UKREiiF – the largest real estate and investment event in the UK, attracting over 6000 delegates from the public and private sectors. 

Team Chesterfield went to the event to share our ambitious new growth strategy with the property sector. 

It has been a busy week of meetings and events, discussing the opportunities in Chesterfield and raising awareness of the Borough. The true success will be known in the coming months and years, as we develop relationships alongside the continued progression of £2 billion worth of regeneration projects.  

One of the strands of the Chesterfield place story is creating connections. People tend to think of this as being about our excellent transport links, our supply chain, and our location next to the Peak District. 

It is much more than just that! 

Throughout history, Chesterfield has built positive relationships to bring forward growth and investment. We have a clear growth strategy, projects to deliver those ambitions and want to continue collaboration to achieve these ambitious plans. 

On Tuesday, Dr. Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council highlighted these ambitions, alongside the importance of strategic thinking and collaboration at a packed panel discussion in the Harworth Pavillion.  

huw bowen harworth UKReiiF

Later that day, Joe Battye, Director of Economy and Regeneration at Derbyshire County Council delivered a case study about the Staveley Growth Corridor, highlighting the role of two local authorities and the private sector to bring forward community-changing regeneration. 

Members of our Chesterfield Property and Construction Group came together to launch our new investment prospectus, and it was brilliant to catch up with so many of them over the week. 

You can view the prospectus here. 

It was also great to see Chesterfield highlighted in the Midlands Engineering Portfolio. The document included the transformation of our historic town centre, the £340 million Chesterfield Waterside scheme, and the forward-thinking masterplan for Chesterfield station. 

investment prospectus launch

A collective voice for the region is a huge opportunity that could be brought about by devolution in the East Midlands. A joint event organised by D2N2 LEP, Marketing Derby, Invest in Nottingham, and ourselves explored the opportunities. 

Will Morlidge, Chief Executive of D2N2 LEP highlighted that the deal would ‘move Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire into the Premier League.’ Meanwhile, Andy Dabbs, Chair of Chesterfield Property Group said the deal needs to embrace public and private sector collaboration, and pool expertise and resources to underpin long-term plans. He added: “It’s a real opportunity to change the perception of our region.”

devolution panel ukreiif

Chesterfield has a strong heritage of being inventive and delivering innovative approaches. From the first disposable nappies and the drills that made the Channel Tunnel, to being the proud home of railway innovator, George Stephenson! 

On Thursday, it was brilliant to hear Tarah Gear from Milligan, highlighting another innovative project in Chesterfield – The Gateway at Peak. 

The project is a pioneer in supporting the Peak District National Park and Chesterfield, in terms of the environment and social inclusion. It was particularly exciting to hear that brands which have already signed up are changing their approaches, to fit with the ethos of this exciting development. 

As Tarah told the panel, they want this development to have ‘a lasting legacy’ and be the ‘ancestor’ that future generations respect.

milligan panel ukreiif

In an increasingly noisy marketplace, ‘Team Chesterfield’ has articulated why our area is a wonderful place to live and work. However, don’t just take our word for it! As The Spectator reported this week, ‘A new property powerhouse is emerging’ in North Derbyshire.  

Thank you to the dedicated and driven partners who continue to work with us and support Destination Chesterfield in raising the profile of the town. Keep a look out for the Chesterfield Investment Summit which returns this October. Once again, the event promises to provide several exciting updates on Chesterfield’s vast regeneration opportunities. 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , , ,

“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.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Leisure, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Property & construction firms shout louder about investment opportunities in Chesterfield

There’s so much to be shouting about across our town. A range of investment opportunities in Chesterfield are now available, with a pipeline of regeneration worth approximately £2 billion on the way.

That message was conveyed to Chesterfield’s business community at the recent Celebrate Chesterfield business conference at the Winding Wheel Theatre.

At the event, business leaders encouraged delegates to help shout about the success of Chesterfield as a collective.

Find out more in the video below, which includes Chesterfield Property and Construction Group member, Andrew Byrne – Property Development Director at The Devonshire Group.

To that end, we’ve been taking a look at how businesses in Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Group are working in collaboration to promote our area externally.

The group has already created strong links between private and public sector organisations in the town. This collaboration encourages further growth and collaboration in areas such as skills, sustainability and investment opportunities.

Find out from our group members how they have been flying the flag for Chesterfield across their sector and beyond:

Lomas and Mitchell Architects

KI yard from above lomas and mitchell

Chesterfield’s Lomas & Mitchell Architects co-founded the successful Property and Construction Group. Additionally, the company is a champion of sustainable development in the town.

Jillian Mitchell, co-owner of Lomas & Mitchell commented:

“Being involved with the Construction and Property Forum enables me to keep in touch with our industry at a local level.

“By working closely with the steering group, I keep up with local developments and find out about companies in our region who, like us, are passionate about sustainability and quality.

“The airing of one of our projects on Channel 4’s Grand Designs gave us an opportunity to market our practice. As part of this, we were able to include Chesterfield and the Forum in our promotions.”

Whittam Cox Architects

Andrew Dabbs

Whittam Cox Architects plays a crucial role in promoting Chesterfield externally and putting the town on the map as a great place to invest.

The company has helped to showcase investment opportunities in Chesterfield by supporting the establishment of the Property and Construction Group.

By encouraging a collective understanding of the significant opportunities in Chesterfield, Whittam Cox raises awareness within the group through social media and in-person events.

Andrew Dabbs chairs the Property and Construction Group in addition to his role as board director at Whittam Cox. Working alongside colleagues, he invests a significant amount of personal time in coordinating group activities.

As a result, there is an increasing interest from companies within and outside the town. The group’s efforts have led to the establishment of some well-received  events. Examples of this include local netWalking and Women in Property events, which provide a platform for networking and collaboration.

Whittam Cox Architects also uses its investment in events such as MIPIM and UKREiiF to promote the town externally. By participating in these industry events, the company can showcase the value of Chesterfield’s location to a broader audience.

Andrew commented:

“As a nationally recognised practice, the company’s HQ in the town draws the spotlight to this great location.

“Whittam Cox Architects believes that promoting the town is a collective responsibility for all companies where possible. By doing so, the company is helping to put Chesterfield on the map as a great place to invest.”

BSP Consulting

elder way public realm bsp

BSP joined Chesterfield Champions to support the town a key public realm project in the town alongside partners.

The project involved improvement works to the whole length of Elder Way. Enhancements to the junctions with Saltergate and Knifesmithgate have also been made, as part of the Northern Gateway regeneration scheme.

BSP worked alongside Danaher & Walsh, which was appointed by Chesterfield Borough Council to carry out the works.

BSP’s business development manager Carrie Booth said:

“Having attended an event in Chesterfield recently and learnt more about the exciting developments and opportunities in the town, we are delighted to be joining Chesterfield Champions.

“It will give BSP the chance to support developments in Chesterfield and the surrounding area and be a part of the future of the town.”

FI Real Estate Management

The HQ Chesterfield

FI Real Estate Management has invested significantly in Chesterfield since 2019. The company has upgraded Rowland Hill House (The HQ) to Grade A office space with a £2m refurbishment programme.

A spokesperson for the company said:

“The HQ presents businesses with an opportunity to benefit from bespoke office facilities for their teams, suited to their specific needs and requirements.

“It reflects the work we are doing to progress Chesterfield’s business offering in line with nearby cities, without compromising on the down-to-earth business style the market town is known for.

“Opportunities like The HQ attract more businesses and further investment to the area. This enriches the working lives of the local community.”

Bolsterstone Group PLC

Chesterfield Waterside office development

Bolsterstone Group is working hard with Chesterfield Borough Council to bring forward the Chesterfield Waterside regeneration scheme, which is a 40-acre scheme that will deliver £350m of investment to the town.

The current phases include 174 new houses, nearing completion. At Basin Square, the firm has just completed the 36,000 sq. ft Grade A office building. This development has already seen major success, with two of the floors already let.

Tom Swallow, Development Manager at Bolsterstone Group, commented:

“The aim of this high-quality building is to provide larger floor plates to attract inward investment. Additionally, it will take advantage of the proximity of both Chesterfield Train Station and Chesterfield town centre.

“The next phase will see a hotel, multi-storey car park and urban housing in the form of build-to-rent apartments.

“All of these seek to provide a quality offer which puts Chesterfield on the map. This draws new residents and businesses into the town and will create a new, sustainable high-quality community”

To find out more about the range of investment opportunities in Chesterfield, along with the benefits of locating your business in the town, view our investment map here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Fall in love with Chesterfield this Valentine’s Day

This Valentine’s Day, we’ve been asking our town’s Chesterfield Champions about what has made them fall in love with the town.

After all, there is so much to be smitten with in Chesterfield… The historic town centre, gorgeous green spaces and a bustling independent food & drink scene just to name a few.

Find out below about some of the brilliant gems we have on our doorstep. You may just find a great date idea for Valentine’s Day along the way!

For comprehensive local guides on gifts, food & drink, and romantic getaways across the town go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/valentines-day-in-chesterfield/

Kerry Ganly – Penguin PR

kerry ganly Penguin PR

“With its contemporary but comfy feel, you can’t beat a night at Casa for a special treat. Huge, squishy beds, elegant décor, efficient and friendly staff – and the most spectacular cocktails served from Barca Bar. Casa is a gem of a place to visit in Chesterfield.”

Find out more about Penguin PR.

Jane Houghton – Global Brands Ltd.

hady hill group - Falling in Love with Chesterfield

“My own perfect piece of Chesterfield is our allotment on Hady Hill allotments. It is a community of over 35 people, on 25 allotments,  who share this fabulous piece of earth just at the bottom of Hady Hill.

“We share seeds, plants, crops and our knowledge. When we have a glut of crops we can supply our local foodbank. We also work together in work parties to improve both the allotment communal areas but also the surrounding area around Spital by litter picking, tidying up the hedge lines and even scraping the decaying leaves off the road to add to our compost!

“The place gives us all space, sanctuary, peace and a feeling of belonging to a group with similar goals.  Great for mental and physical health too.”

Find out more about Global Brands Ltd.

Daniel Jones – Derbyshire Voluntary Action

Daniel Jones DVA - Falling in love with Chesterfield

“Step 5 minutes away from the friendly streets of our town and villages and you are greeted by beautiful countryside and parks all around us.

“Walking in nature is just fantastic medicine for the soul, and I have countless memories of walking through woodland trails, and fields with my son and daughter, or just for some quiet time on my own to reflect.

“My favourite spot is undoubtedly the Chesterfield Canal, and the walks around it, from Tapton Lock, all the way out to the Hollingwood Hub and beyond. It’s definitely a secret gem of our town that keeps growing thanks to the fantastic work of volunteers in Chesterfield.”

Find out more about Derbyshire Voluntary Action.

James Pogson – Northern Tea Merchants

“My favourite place in Chesterfield is the Tickled Trout Pub and Restaurant in Barlow. I visit whenever I can, and love the standard of the décor, the kindness and professional attitude of the staff and the consistently excellent meals and desserts.

“Chris Mapp, the owner, has worked and worked and worked to keep his restaurant at the top of Chesterfield’s best restaurants, and his efforts continue to pay off.

“Whether its for a Sunday lunch, a takeaway Pizza, a family gathering in the upstairs function room, the Trout never fails to please me, and I am sure that this is the case for many local people.”

Find out more about Northern Tea Merchants.

Amelia Bacon – CMP Legal

Amelia Bacon CMP Legal

“I enjoy living in Chesterfield mainly for its location, being in such close proximity to the beautiful Peak District. A short drive can lead you to the heart of the countryside where I spend many weekends going on long walks and enjoying a good pub lunch!

“Chesterfield also has some great locations for running such as the Chesterfield Canal. It is where I did most of my training for the London Marathon last year!”

Find out more about CMP Legal.

Luke Brailsford – DBC Training

Luke Brailsford DBC Training

“My favourite place to visit in Chesterfield has to be the market. The authentic traditional vibe, hustle and bustle and variety is always intriguing and inviting.”

Find out more about DBC Training.

Josh Hodgkinson – Matlock Farm Park

Josh Matlock Farm Park Love Chesterfield

“I personally love visiting Hardwick Hall. Whether you’re visiting for the history of the buildings, the walks through the estate, or to have a leisurely stroll through the gardens, there’s something for everyone!”

Find out more about Matlock Farm Park.

Clare Talati – DEBP

clare talati DEBP

“With our base in Chesterfield, we often have catch-ups locally and it is great to try out new places and support local businesses. We had our Christmas Party at The Galleon Steak House and have met at Sorbo Lounge, Dunston Hall Garden Centre, The Peacock Cutthorpe, and The Vintage Tea Rooms, to name but a few.

“We have also held a team quiz at The Woodside and had team walks at Holmebrook Valley Park and Linacre Reservoirs.”

Find out more about DEBP.

Jack Smith – Apprentice Team

Jack Smith Apprentice Team

“For a breath of fresh air, the Chesterfield Canal has always been one of my favourite spots. Such abundant wildlife so close to the town centre is a nice break from the hustle and bustle.

“For food and drink, I always love a night in Einsteins. The drinks are so unique, and the food is always top-notch. Though, the best thing about it is always the atmosphere.”

Find out more about Apprentice Team.

Nigel Mallender – Addooco IT

“I love Queen’s Park, the home of Chesterfield Cricket Club where I am Chairman. Our historic Club is at the heart of the community and we’re incredibly proud to carry the town name.

“We work closely with Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire County Cricket Club each year to stage the hugely successful Festival of Cricket, which brings so many visitors to our town.”

Find out more about Addooco IT.

Will Moroney –  Lightmain Company Ltd.

Will Moroney_Senior Management Surveyor

“A favourite place of mine to visit is Linacre Reservoir. A relatively short walk from home, there’s nothing better than being there at the start of the day as the sun begins to rise over the Town Centre.

“There are a growing number of good eateries that we look to support as much as possible around the area too… The Hunloke Arms at Wingerworth being a particular favourite.”

Find out more about Lightmain Company Ltd.

Jane Taylor – Dronfield Wine World

Jane Taylor Dronfield Wine World

“I love cycling along the canal from Tapton Lock out to Rother Valley Park. It’s safe and there is a lot to see on the canalside.

“There are some fabulous cafes in the town where I like to meet up with friends or for a business meeting. In the evening there are some excellent bars and restaurants when we want to go for a night out.”

Find out more about Dronfield Wine World.

Will Sissons – Itrack GPS Trackers

Chesterfield Champions Picture Will I track - Fall in Love with Chesterfield

“Queens Park is always a great place to take the kids, especially during the summer months. There is always something happening to keep them entertained!

“Queens Park is a lovely open space that the town can be proud of. I also play football on the 3G pitch with friends every week – another brilliant facility.”

Find out more about Itrack GPS Trackers.

Chris Dwan – Woodall Homes

Chris Dwan Woodall Homes

“I really enjoy the bars and eateries in the Chatsworth Road area of town. The area offers the benefit of the green hills and edge of Peak District backdrop as you move from place to place. I always see the gateway to the Peak District aspect of Chesterfield as being one of its key strengths.

“I always find the atmosphere along Chatsworth Road, like throughout all parts of Chesterfield, as very welcoming and good humoured.”

Find out more about Woodall Homes.

Mel Archbould – Cloud-Busting

Mel Archbould Cloudbusting

“If I have a few hours to pass, I love to walk down Chatsworth Road into the Town Centre to stock up on fresh fruit and veg from the historic Victorian market, take a slow walk round the Crooked Spire – The Parish Church of St Marys and All Saints, which is overflowing with history, beauty, and peacefulness; back through Queens Park, another Victorian town highlight, treating myself to a delicious ice cream from the Gelataria, Fredericks in the park.

“Just about 10,000 steps, lots of fresh air and supporting the local economy. Perfect!”

Find out more about Cloud-Busting.

Hollie Walters – Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa

hollie ringwood hall

“There are many great places to visit in and around Chesterfield. The Linacre Reservoir is beautiful, and the walks are extremely picturesque. Bolsover Castle is stunning and the views over Bolsover are amazing, and not to forget Barrow Hill Roundhouse, which is a key heritage site and part of the rich industrial history of the area… A real hidden gem in Chesterfield.”

Find out more about Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa.

James Taylor – Roaring Mouse Public Relations

James Taylor Roaring Mouse

“Real Time Live is one of my favourite places to visit in Chesterfield. I love live music and that venue is a fantastic place to enjoy a gig.

“Odyssey is my favourite food place right now, mostly because of the Gyros. I’m also addicted to grilled cheese sandwiches from Society on Stephenson Place.”

Find out more about Roaring Mouse Public Relations.

Charlotte James – DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park

Poolsbrook Country Park - Fall in love with Chesterfield

“I love exploring the parks and open green spaces around Chesterfield, especially with my Dog. There’s lots of great places for dog walks both long and short.

“Experiencing the local wildlife, seeing the different wild flowers bloom throughout the year, and exploring the open green spaces for Otis to run around!”

Find out more about DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park.

Paul Chapman – S40 Local Magazine

Linacre reservoir - Fall in Love with Chesterfield

“Linacre Reservoirs – this place has to be my go to escape.

“The seasons make this place magical, a walk in the Spring as the Bluebells spread like a carpet, bone dry Summer trails linking me to the Peak District as I head out on a mountain bike ride, the Autumn colours reflecting on the still waters or the test that snow and ice presents as I take time out in the Winter months.

“You just can’t beat the place.”

Find out more about S40 Local Magazine.

Love Chesterfield valentines

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

“Having a ready and skilled workforce will help us attract new investment to the area”

Destination Chesterfield Chair Peter Swallow has penned his views on the success of the recent Love Chesterfield Awards and looks ahead to the innovative MADE in Chesterfield campaign, which helps engage young people with manufacturing, engineering, property and construction businesses. 

As chair of Destination Chesterfield, I was honoured to attend of the Love Chesterfield Awards recently. As I looked around the packed room at the Winding Wheel, I felt very proud to be part of the town.

I saw passion, enthusiasm and dedication from the owners, employees, family and friends of the 34 businesses represented there on the night. All the businesses were independently owned and many of them operate on the high street. Through these businesses and the investment being made in the town, I am confident we are creating a town centre that will meet the needs of not only shoppers and visitors but the businesses that are based there.

The town centre of the future is one that delivers an experience, a product or service that you can’t get online or from an out-of-town retail park or shopping centre. Independents are critical to this vision. It is not only their products and services that people visit them for, but also their warm welcome, knowledge and customer service.

The town has a long and proud tradition of independent businesses that starts with our market – described by Cllr Kate Sarvent at the awards as ‘the beating heart of Chesterfield’. It may have its origins in the 13th century, but the market is as important to our future as it is to our past, proven by Chesterfield Borough Council’s ambitious plans to develop the spaces within the market.

Internet shopping has been a large factor in this as have our increasingly busy lives. However, Chesterfield has all the raw ingredients to create a thriving town centre of the future – a multi-functional social centre. They are about enjoyment, creativity, learning, socialising, culture, health and wellbeing and democratic engagement – a ‘21st century agora’ where people engage in the life of their locality. Independent businesses are key to this, as are event spaces and town centre living.

Through annual campaigns like Love Chesterfield and the town’s manufacturing and engineering sector celebration – Made in Chesterfield, which takes place this month, we aim not only to celebrate the sectors but also raise awareness of the plethora of careers and opportunity available in them to young people. They are the future skilled workers of these sectors and key to the businesses already here thriving but, having a ready and skilled workforce will help us attract new investment to the area. Likewise, we must also ensure we create the environment that young people want to live and grow their career. Investment is happening throughout the borough to ensure this.

£26million alone is being spent enhancing the town centre. Work has begun on improvements to the Market Place, New Square, Corporation Street, Rykneld Square and Burlington Street.

Together with the major refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall on Corporation Street and the reimaging of the market and market squares we will have a town centre that delivers on every level and, importantly, for everybody. Young people in particular I hope, will see a future for themselves on the high street as both shoppers, visitors and entrepreneurs.

The £26million project is aptly named Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield’. Looking around the room at the Love Chesterfield Awards – seeing both the winners and finalists, I can say with confidence that Chesterfield’s town centre has a very strong heartbeat already.

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

Chesterfield Champions provide support to the local community

Several businesses and organisations in Chesterfield are doing their bit to support the community.

A number of initiatives and fundraising efforts have been launched to support charities and local residents. Find out more in our roundup below:

Chesterfield Football Club launches ‘Feed Chesterfield Together’

Feed Chesterfield Together has been launched by the Community Trust as a joint venture with Chesterfield Locality Children’s Partnership (LCP). The aim of the campaign is to support local food provisions within Chesterfield and the surrounding areas.

Community manager Jayne Bacon outlined the new initiative, explaining: “It’s about helping local families through what’s going to be a difficult winter.

“Feed Chesterfield Together will raise funds to support existing food provisions such as food banks and distribution units to help and support vulnerable families in the town.

“We want to provide our support and help to feed the most vulnerable this winter as it’s going to be a tough time for everyone.

“We’re delighted with how things have gone so far. We began with a bucket collection at the last home match, raising £250 to begin with, which is a great start.”

David Mills, chair of the LCP, is proud that Chesterfield Schools and pupils have come together to support this crucial initiative. He said: “Schools have provided a platform for children and young people to support the most vulnerable families in Chesterfield.

“This demonstrates the tremendous positive contribution children and young people can make to their local community in a very challenging time.”

Jayne spoke about the importance of the Trust being involved with these sorts of projects.

“It’s absolutely vital for us,” she said. ”We are a community facility, and we want to be here for the people of Chesterfield when they most need help and support.

“It’s essential that we provide support to the most vulnerable in Chesterfield and help them in any way we can.”

Jayne also revealed that a warm space in the HUB will be made available for families over the winter. She said: “We will be opening the HUB from 5pm to 7.30pm, Monday to Friday, where the heating will be on and we will provide books, magazines and board games.

“It’s a space for people to stay warm and safe. Some of the Feed Chesterfield Together funds will be allocated to offering food and drinks in the warm HUB via Chester’s Den cafe.

“We want people who use the warm HUB to feel welcome, have fun, stay warm and have food available too. It’s vital for us to provide these opportunities and we really want to provide a safe space for families to make use of.

“It’s important that we open our doors. We are a community facility, and we want to open that up for people to use. We’re hopeful this will help a number of families.”

A GoFundMe page has been set-up for people who would like to make a donation to help the project. To access this, please visit www.gofundme.com and search for ‘Feed Chesterfield Together’.

Paperclip takes part in ‘Wear it Pink’ day

Paperclip has been ‘Wearing it Pink’ to raise monies for the charity, Breast Cancer Now. The ‘official’ day is Friday (21 October).

Each team member made a donation and Paperclip agreed to match the funds raised.  1 in 8 Women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime

Find out more on the ‘Wear it Pink’ website.

Kids Planet Sheepbridge creates accessible indoor pumpkin patch

Autumn is in full swing at the Kids Planet nurseries, and one nursery in particular has gone above and beyond in its pursuit to provide children with an accessible magical space to experience pumpkin picking.

The Kids Planet Sheepbridge team have created their own indoor pumpkin patch for the children to explore, truly bringing the outside in with hay, pumpkins, leaves, wheelbarrows, wellington boots, and more.

The children of all ages are using the pumpkin patch, and will be doing some pumpkin decorating and sensory activities with the inside of the pumpkins, working in line Kids Planet’s values of inspiring awe and wonder.

Lauren Poundall, Acting Nursery Manager at Kids Planet Sheepbridge, said: “We are thrilled with our indoor pumpkin patch. It was important to us to create this in order to give all children the opportunity to experience Pumpkin Picking, as sometimes these types of places are not easily accessible to all.

“We wanted to build an inspiring environment which would interest and spark children’s communication. Our Families have loved the Pumkin Patch and the children come into nursery asking to go and see the hay and the Pumpkins.”

Ashgate Hospice’s ‘Light up a life’ returns

Ashgate Hospice’s new-look Light Up a Life campaign has launched and the charity is giving the community a way to remember their loved ones during what can be a difficult time for many.

Supporters will receive a lantern in the post which can be personalised with a photo of their loved one and a special message in return for a suggested £20 donation.

They will also be sent an electric light to place inside their lantern and an invitation to join a special procession and remembrance ceremony in Chesterfield on the evening of Sunday 4th December.

The poignant 1.2-mile procession, which will start around 5pm, will bring walkers to the hospice at Old Brampton for a special remembrance ceremony in the beautifully lit gardens from 6pm.

The evening will include a touching reflection from local celebrant Jonathan Reeve, gentle live music and refreshments.

Jack Wood, Head of Fundraising at Ashgate Hospice, said: “Every year, Ashgate Hospice unites our community to remember our loved ones during this difficult time.

“But this year will be especially poignant as we will finally get to remember together, in-person, for the first time since the pandemic.

“We hope our Light Up a Life event will bring some comfort to families like Ali’s at such an emotional time of year.

“I hope you will join us at this very special remembrance event and help raise vital funds to support many more families when they need urgent care and support.”

Find out more about Ashgate Hospice’s Light Up a Life appeal at https://ashgatehospice.org.uk/light-up-a-life or by calling 01246 567250.

Chesterfield Football Club, Paperclip, Kids Planet and Ashgate Hospice support 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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Property & Construction group praises ongoing collaboration across Chesterfield

Members of Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Group have praised the ongoing collaboration between private and public sector organisations across the town, which is helping to drive forward several landmark regeneration schemes in the area.

The Chesterfield Investment Summit was delivered to packed room at the Casa Hotel on 28th September 2022. At the summit, the town’s property and construction sector and a handful Chesterfield Champions were invited to a lunch event, which enabled further networking and an opportunity to ask questions to Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader, Tricia Gilby and Chief Executive, Huw Bowen.

After the event, Cllr Tricia Gilby commented: “Chesterfield is very resilient and has consistently come out of national crises stronger than it went into them. In the last recession we established Destination Chesterfield, and this has reaped rewards. We also resolved as a council and with all our partners, to come out of the pandemic fighting and as a result a number of developments came out of the ground, including One Waterside Place and the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre.

“Chesterfield Brough Council and our partners will now work together with inward investors to ensure the next five years are as good as, if not better, than the last five years.”

Read the full round-up of the event here: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/2022/10/new-investment-sites-set-to-open-up-across-chesterfield/

The event left attendees impressed with the range of potential investment opportunities opening up across the town, along with optimism for the continuation of strong public/private partnership working across the sector to grow the town’s economy.

Jim Lomas, Director at DLP Planning Ltd:

“It was so pleasing to see such a large turnout for the Investment Summit. There is clearly a great deal of investor interest and enthusiasm from both within and outside the local area. Given our previous and current experience of assisting with the planning process, there is a willingness by the Council to help with business development, housing delivery and infrastructure enhancements, all of which will lead to longer term prosperity and hopefully a greener and more sustainable environment.

“Housing developers in particular are currently delivering the mix and range of property types which are meeting demand and addressing needs. It is clear that many adjoining Local Authority areas outside of Chesterfield are failing to deliver their housing needs and consequently the town is meeting not only its own local needs, but also attracting those from the wider area. The positive consequences for Chesterfield are significant, leading to greater spending power in the local economy, enhanced service provision, regeneration of urban areas and creating a vibrant community, something which can only be welcomed.”

Sarah Wills, Associate Director at Nineteen47 Ltd:

“It was great to be in the room for these discussions. I Really enjoyed hearing about priority projects and collaboration across sectors. It was lovely to hear how integral the Council see the private sector in terms of profile and delivery in the Chesterfield Borough, and we are proud to be a continued part of this conversation.”

Kriston Harvey, Director at Rodgers Leask:

“I think one of the biggest highlights would have to be the fact that following on from previous summits, where it has been great to hear about pipeline projects, we are now able to see these projects coming out of the ground and in some cases complete! Both the Enterprise Centre and One Waterside Place are fantastic examples of this and can hopefully be part of the catalyst to drive further regeneration and development.

“Having quality office space locally is clearly a benefit to the town also. This will help to retain businesses within Chesterfield and strengthen the local economy. It was also really good to hear that both the University of Derby and Chesterfield College have big plans – investing in the future generation is critical and it is great to see that there will be even more opportunities for people to stay in Chesterfield and develop new skills.”

Tony Buck, Associate Director at Oasis Studio:

“I always enjoy attending the Chesterfield Investment summit. It was great to see a full house of delegates in attendance, reflective of peoples’ interest in the future of the town. A range of engaging speakers provided a concise summary of all the present and future developments in the pipeline including good conversation around the recently completed office developments at the Waterside and Northern Gateway schemes.  Looking ahead, it appears a number of regeneration projects as part of the Staveley Masterplan are taking shape, adding the plethora of opportunity for local business like ourselves.”

Find out more about ongoing development taking place in Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/

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“When it comes to investment opportunities, the town has everything covered”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield has given his views on regeneration and investment across the town, following the successful Chesterfield Investment Summit 2022.

The content of the ‘Invest In Chesterfield’ event never fails to impress and this year was no exception. Once again, to a packed room, we heard how Chesterfield continues to punch above its weight.

This is a much-used term when it comes to describing our town, but it is accurate. The level of regeneration and new developments happening in Chesterfield right now surpasses most towns and even some cities.

More than £1billion is being invested in projects across Chesterfield, from social and private residential developments and office accommodation to industrial and leisure developments and retail. When it comes to investment opportunities, the town has everything covered, making it in attractive proposition.

However, there is no denying that tough times are upon us. The UK-wide energy crisis and rise in the cost of living has severely impacted families and businesses.

There is talk of recession but let’s not forget, it was during the last recession that the successful Destination Chesterfield campaign was launched in 2010 to market the borough and attract investment, and this has proved very successful.

As the former leader of Chesterfield Borough Council John Burrows said in 2012: “We could have chosen to bunker down and ride out the recession, but we didn’t. We chose to be proactive and forge ahead with our marketing plans.”

Destination Chesterfield has been instrumental in putting the town on the national and international investment map, ensuring that Chesterfield emerged from the recession stronger, with new employers, businesses and projects.

This forward-thinking approach to creating jobs, homes and opportunity for the people who live in Chesterfield very much remains at the heart of council policy today.

Consider more recent history. During the pandemic the Council invested in office accommodation at the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre and One Waterside Place, placing the town in an excellent position to benefit from the demand for high quality, modern workspace post Covid.

In addition to numerous private residential developments, during the pandemic work also got underway on ‘the biggest council housing development in the Chesterfield borough since the 1980s.’ The 21 brand new properties at Badger Croft in Loundsley Green represent a fine example of Chesterfield Borough Council’s commitment to increasing the supply of affordable and accessible homes across the town.

When you consider that nearly 90% of local authorities failed to complete a single new-build council home by Q3 of 2021, this is a remarkable feat.

We have seen significant opportunities created by regeneration projects in and around the town centre and at Markham Vale. But there is more to come, a lot more.

Investment in Staveley is set to redevelop and regenerate former industrial areas, bringing with it new homes, jobs, leisure amenities and opportunity.

Recession or no recession, Chesterfield is a borough that won’t stand still. Watch this space.

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‘Regeneration is not just confined to Chesterfield Town Centre’

Destination Chesterfield chair, Peter Swallow has given his thoughts on the town’s ongoing regeneration ahead of the 2022 Chesterfield Investment Summit.

September officially sees the end of summer and, let’s hope, this unnaturally hot weather.

While the heat has brought with it lethargy and exhaustion for many, the same can’t be said for Chesterfield’s ambitious investment plans which are to be put under the spotlight at the Chesterfield Investment Summit. And there is much to talk about.

The opening of the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre recently signified the completion of the first phase of the £20 million Northern Gateway regeneration scheme.

Phase 2 is already underway with the demolition of the former Chesterfield Hotel the redevelopment of which forms part of the ambitious Chesterfield Station Masterplan which will deliver regeneration of the area around Chesterfield train station.

Phase 1 has transformed the northern entrance to Chesterfield town centre so I have no doubt that phase 2 will be equally effective.  As well as the Enterprise Centre and transformation of the iconic 1920s iconic former Co-op department store into units targeted at food and drink businesses, the project also comprised the redevelopment of the Saltergate multi-storey car park, and improvements to the public space at Elder Way and Knifesmithgate.

The new office space at the Enterprise Centre will shortly be joined by One Waterside Place at Chesterfield Waterside. It’s a different offering to that provided at The Enterprise Centre, as it delivers larger floorplates, but offers accommodation which much needed in the town if we are to achieve our ambitions. Already, there are tenants set to move in – BHP Accountants, a long-standing Chesterfield business which, because of the availability of suitable new Grade A office space in the town, is able to remain in Chesterfield and grow their business further.

Make no mistake, the investment and regeneration in Chesterfield is not just confined to the town centre; it is happening throughout the borough.

The Staveley Works development, which is being delivered by Devonshire Group, will transform 150 hectares of former industrial land in Staveley into 700 homes, shops, leisure, a hotel, primary school, and a canal marina. It is considered the largest regeneration opportunity in the area.

Regeneration and construction are one thing, however a key success factor in Chesterfield’s growth and development is creating and promoting job opportunities in all sectors for everyone; they go hand in hand like the public/private partnerships which are transforming the town and surrounding areas.

I am immensely proud of the ongoing work by all partners – public and private, to not only transform the town but ensure all young people in Chesterfield are aware of the many job opportunities here. It is a team effort, and the results very much speak for themselves.

 

Restoration of Chesterfield Canal, Staveley

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