chesterfield borough council

International motivational speaker set to inspire people to champion Chesterfield

Chesterfield needs to champion itself better if it is to thrive in 2023 and beyond. That will be the message at this year’s Celebrate Chesterfield business conference.

At the conference, Global Business Awards Motivational speaker of the year 2021, Steve Judge will deliver a mini motivational workshop to inspire and motivate the town’s business community.

Steve Judge will be encouraging people to get behind Destination Chesterfield’s new plan which will see it position Chesterfield as a desirable and contemporary destination for visitors, investors and residents.

The free breakfast conference is being held on Thursday 2 March from 7.30am – 11.00am at The Winding Wheel Theatre.

Fully booked every year, businesses are being urged to book their tickets now to the free business conference.

In addition to Steve Judge, speakers at the conference will also include Andy Byrne, Property Development Director for the Devonshire Group, which is behind the future development and regeneration of 150 hectares of former industrial land in Staveley.

Now in its twelfth year, Celebrate Chesterfield, which is organised by Destination Chesterfield and in association with Addooco IT Ltd, has become a key date in the town’s events calendar and attracts more than 250 delegates each year.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield commented: “There is no denying that there are difficult times ahead for the UK economy. However, Chesterfield and its economy is resilient. We have weathered storms like this before and come out of them in a strong position with much to look forward to. The Celebrate Chesterfield event is a timely reminder to the business community of all the development that is taking place in the borough and continues to make it an excellent place to live, work and invest.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, added: “We have a fantastic town with a strong community but to ensure our borough continues to thrive, we must celebrate what makes us special and communicate this clearly to potential investors. I’d encourage members of the local business community to come along to this event to find out more about what we have planned and how we can work together to help ensure our borough achieves its potential.”

Richard Walters, Managing Director of Addooco IT Ltd, the event’s headline sponsor commented: “Addooco are delighted to be headline sponsors of Celebrate Chesterfield and look forward to welcoming all the delegates to this excellent event. We are proudly based in Chesterfield and have been supporting the business community with Managed IT, Cloud and Communications solutions since 2008.

“Not only does Celebrate Chesterfield showcase what is happening in our town, the event is a fantastic opportunity to promote the benefits of trading locally, connecting supply and demand to forge new relationships.”

apprentice IT technician

The event is also being supported by University of Derby, Choice Utility and Markham Vale.

Dan Molloy, Managing Director at Choice Utility commented: “As a company, we are delighted to be supporting Celebrate Chesterfield and helping to shout about what makes the town great. I’ve lived in Chesterfield since I was eight years old, and it has so many great things going for it. The connectivity is excellent from a logistical point of view and the town continues to move forward and evolve. The new developments at Markham Vale and the work being done at Chesterfield Waterside emphasise this. We really do love the town and are excited to play our part in shouting about it.”

A Markham Vale spokesperson said: “It’s great to see Celebrate Chesterfield taking place again for its ninth year – we’re very pleased to be able to support the event. It offers an excellent opportunity to find out more about Chesterfield and everything it has to offer.

“Chesterfield is a fantastic place to do business, as demonstrated by the phenomenal growth we’ve seen at Markham Vale and the creation of more than 2,700 new jobs.”

Markham Vale Business Park

This year, the event will also host the Derbyshire Festival of Business Exhibition, which is designed to showcase Derbyshire’s extensive business offer and capabilities.

Adam Doyle, Head of Business Engagement and Employability at the University of Derby which is supporting the Festival of Business Exhibition said: “We are once again proud to be the headline sponsor of the Celebrate Chesterfield showcase. The event is increasingly significant this year as we look to celebrate local business success in such challenging times, and we are pleased to be able to share this success wider as part of the Derbyshire Festival of Business. The festival plays a key role in continuing to support the business community to innovate and grow, aligned to our aim of raising skills and aspirations across our region. Working with businesses, we are helping to position our county internationally as a place to do business as well as a place to study, live and work.”

Celebrate Chesterfield exhibition

Exhibitor space is available at Celebrate Chesterfield 2023 and can be booked online at www.chesterfield.co.uk/celebrate/2023-exhibitor-booking-form/

To find out how you can help champion Chesterfield, book a delegate place at Celebrate Chesterfield 2023 by visiting www.chesterfield.co.uk/celebrate/

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

Discover hidden history at Derbyshire Archaeology Day

People are being invited to learn more about recent historical discoveries from across the county and get hands-on with history at Derbyshire Archaeology Day.

At the event on Saturday 21 January at the Winding Wheel Theatre in Chesterfield, there will be a series of guest talks on topics including Peveril Castle, excavations in Bolsover, and the ‘Anchor Church’ cave.

There will also be some free hands-on activities in the Winding Wheel Ballroom that are suitable for the whole family, as part of the event being organised by the Derbyshire Archaeology Day group.

The council’s partners at Wessex Archaeology will be bringing their virtual reality experience that will allow visitors to explore the inside of iconic historical buildings, including an Iron Age roundhouse. There will be artefact handling, with the opportunity to get up close and personal with Roman archaeological objects and people will also be able to have a go at sifting through small pebbles to retrieve environmental evidence.

Meghan King, the Finds Liaison Officer for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, will also be attending to help people identify their mystery objects or archaeological treasures.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “Whether you are a history expert or just have an interest in our county, you’ll be sure to enjoy Derbyshire Archaeology Day. The activities in the Ballroom will allow the whole family to be entertained whilst learning about our history.”

Derbyshire Archaeology Day takes place from 9.45am until 4.20pm. More information about the schedule for the day and the talks taking place is available on the council’s website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/home/events/derbyshire-archaeology-day

Tickets for are £11 and can be booked on the Winding Wheel website: www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/shows/derbyshire-archaeology-day

The drop-in sessions run by Wessex Archaeology and Meghan King take place from 11am until 3pm and these free activities do not need to be booked.

Winding-Wheel

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , ,

Community group celebrates 10 years of walking at Holmebrook Valley Park

Chesterfield’s Holmebrook Valley Park is celebrating 10 years of hosting a walking group this month.

On 12 January, the volunteer group leaders and other local walkers were joined by Mayor of Chesterfield Councillor Tony Rogers to explore what the park has to offer.

The Holmebrook Valley Park ‘walk with us’ walking group originally launched in 2013, but it was temporarily put on hold in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions, then launched again as soon as outdoor meeting restrictions allowed.

Over the years, the group has welcomed many residents and other local people who enjoy walking. A number of the group’s regular members have completed accredited training enabling them to take it in turns to lead the group each week.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt said: “We have a wonderful team of volunteers at Holmebrook Valley Park who share the role of walk leader each week and help each other to keep the group growing and thriving.

“They meet around 10.15am each week by the café at the pavilion in the top cark park off Watermeadow Lane, ready to set off at 10.30am. They generally walk for around an hour before returning to the café for drinks and chat. Anyone is welcome to join in, no special equipment is needed, just sensible shoes and clothing suitable for the weather.

“There are slopes in the park and some rough surfaces under foot but the leaders will explain the route each week so walkers can decide if it is suitable for their own ability. Everyone is welcome, so if you fancy getting outdoors and exploring somewhere new feel free to join the group.”

Park facilities

The park is open to pedestrians all year round and has won the prestigious Green Flag award for the last twelve years.

The northern end of the park is elevated and offers spectacular views over Chesterfield to Hardwick Hall and Bolsover Castle and on towards Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

There is something for everyone to enjoy at the park including children’s play areas, a free outdoor gym, football pitches, cycling, orienteering route, an art sculpture trail, picnic tables and a café.

Join the group

The Holmebrook Valley Park walking group meet every Thursday at 10.30am for a

45–60 minute walk in Chesterfield’s largest park that includes open water, woodlands and hay meadows. Please note the park has hills and some uneven paths.

If you would like to join in, meet by the cafe in park pavilion (top car park) at Holmebrook Valley Park, Watermeadow Lane, Chesterfield, S41 8XP.

You can find out about other park-based walks on the Chesterfield Borough Council website or learn about other group walks in our area and beyond on the Walk Derbyshire website: https://walkderbyshire.org.uk/

For more information, please contact Tina Hensey, Chesterfield Borough Council Community Lifestyles Officer, tina.hensey@chesterfield.gov.uk.

Holmebrook-Valley-Walking-Group

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , , ,

Local businesses, schools and education providers invited to help shape the future of education and skills delivery

‘Careers Made In Chesterfield’ – a brand new Careers Workshop pilot, which is designed to inspire and inform local students, will be launched at this year’s Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference.

Schools and employers, who are keen to support the future career and job opportunities for local young people, are being urged to attend the free annual conference to learn more about the exciting initiative.

The Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference, which aims to strengthen links between education providers and businesses, is returning for a seventh year and will take place at the Winding Wheel Theatre on Wednesday 8 February, from 8am -11am.

Confirmed speakers at the go-to event include Andy Byrne, Property Development Director for the Devonshire Group, which is behind the Staveley Works scheme. He will be updating on the innovative Construction Skills Hub, which is set to provide specialist training for thousands of learners as part of the Staveley Town Deal.

Alongside Andy Byrne, Julie Richards, Principal of The Chesterfield College Group will be speaking at the event. The College, with support from the University of Derby, has been appointed as the training provider for the new Hub. Over 10 years, the public/private sector collaboration aims to provide training, careers insights, and work experience for over 5,000 learners.

The conference will also welcome students from Whittington Green School and apprentices from Tarmac as well as Cllr Amanda Serjeant, Deputy Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council.

The conference is an opportunity for businesses, schools and education providers in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire to come together and shape the future of education and skills delivery in the area.

During the morning, businesses are invited to feed into local and regional skills plans and help shape the strategic direction through discussion of business needs, challenges and successes.

Organised by Chesterfield Borough Council and Destination Chesterfield, with support from Derbyshire North Careers Hub, the conference is part of the Derbyshire Festival of Business programme and open to all businesses, schools and education providers in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire to attend.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, deputy leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “This year’s Skills and Employability Conference looks set to be another packed showcase of the exciting opportunities and aspirations which exist across our borough. It’s a great way to strengthen the links between business and education, which ensures that our young people can develop the skills local employers need – creating a thriving and ambitious local workforce for the future.

“On the day, we will be delighted to be joined by students from Whittington Green School and look forward to hearing from senior leaders at Brookfield Community School about steps we can take together to develop robust career strategies that will further benefit the borough’s young people, along with an employer panel that will be chaired by Tarmac’s apprentice.

“The spotlight will also be on some of our innovative skills projects which are moving ahead in the borough, including investment in the Construction Skills Hub through the Staveley Town Deal which is set to create some fantastic opportunities for thousands of learners over the coming years, especially young people living in the Staveley area.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield, commented: “With over 15,000 students set to gain their GCSEs and A Levels over the next five years in North Derbyshire, a strong and successful partnership between education providers and local businesses is critical. We need to ensure young people have the right skills, are work-ready and can make the most of the employment opportunities available in a wide range of sectors and industries on their doorstep. This conference is the first step in making this happen.”

Tickets for the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference are free and can be booked at https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/chesterfield-north-derbyshire-employability-skills-conference/.

2023 employability eventbrite image dfob

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Have your say on Chesterfield town centres

Chesterfield residents and local business owners are being encouraged to complete our quarterly consumer and business surveys to help us to learn more about how you / your customers use services in our town centres.

Love Chesterfield is a campaign organised by Chesterfield Borough Council in partnership with Destination Chesterfield to promote and support high streets and town centres across the borough of Chesterfield.

The quick surveys will ask you questions about your business performance and any changes you have noticed in the last three months (October – December 2022) if you are a business owner, and the consumer survey will ask you to update us on what events or venues you have attended and services you have used recently in our communities.

Please spend a few minutes to complete the relevant questionnaire. The results will allow us to monitor the performance of the town, the success of marketing campaigns and business support and will help to shape future activity to support high street businesses across the borough.

The survey will close on 20th February 2023.

At the end of the consumer questionnaire, there is an opportunity to win two tickets to see Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story at the Winding Wheel.

Complete the surveys here…

You can find out more about what’s on offer across our local high streets in Chesterfield by going to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/

Chesterfield

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

Council takes next step to safeguard the future of Chesterfield’s historic Tapton House

Proposals to safeguard the future of Chesterfield’s historic Tapton House – ensuring the Grade-II* listed building can be restored and brought back into beneficial use – have been considered by Chesterfield Borough Council.

A sympathetic scheme which would see the building restored and converted for residential accommodation, together with a commitment to retain the parkland for public use and create visitor access to part of the Georgian mansion, was chosen as the preferred option by the council’s Cabinet on Tuesday (13 December).

The decision followed careful consideration of bids from 17 interested parties, with the council’s Cabinet approving the sale of the property on a 999-year ground lease to developers, Stone Castle Enterprises Ltd. The sale is subject to further legal due diligence and exchange of contracts.

Councillor Dean Collins, cabinet member for economic growth, said: “Just like the people of Chesterfield, we want to achieve the very best outcome for Tapton House. This is why we set out to find a new owner with the necessary expertise and financial ability to restore and refurbish Tapton House and safeguard its long-term future.

“The council’s Cabinet considered a detailed report on the bids received and the robust process that has been followed to evaluate and score each against a range of relevant criteria – including evidence of proof of funds, and that conservation and environmental matters have been properly considered.

“The offer put forward by the preferred bidder represents the most credible, sympathetic and financially viable option to restore and safeguard the building for generations to come, and the developers have made a commitment to work closely with the council, the Friends of Tapton House and the wider community, as their plans progress.”

Any development will still be subject to planning and conservation approvals, but the proposals put forward set out an aspiration to convert the main house into 15 apartments, with three town houses and two bungalows built in place of the annexe buildings.

Stone Castle Enterprises Ltd have confirmed that no hard boundary would be required and open public access to the parkland would continue. The developers would also seek to create a public heritage area in the building to ensure its past use as the home of Charles Paxton Markham and George Stephenson are celebrated and the importance of the property to the town’s history continues to be commemorated.

Councillor Collins added: “I would like to express the council’s thanks to all 17 bidders who submitted offers to take on this treasured asset. In arriving at a final decision on this important matter, Cabinet members also considered the many views that have been expressed and representations made at earlier council meetings – including the debate on the Friends of Tapton House’s petition.”

A spokesperson for Stone Castle Enterprises Ltd said: “Our vision for Tapton House is to reflect its heritage, honour its past and to create new homes within the space that are steeped in history but built for modern lifestyles.

“We understand the significance of Tapton House to the local community and as such our proposals include maintaining the current levels of public access to the grounds around the building and exploring the viability of developing part of the building to showcase Tapton House’s rich heritage.

“We look forward to working hard, alongside the council and the community, to deliver the best for Tapton House and for the town and borough.”

The Cabinet decision is subject to the council’s usual call-in procedures.

Tapton House

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , ,

New trees planted in Staveley to mark National Tree Week

Sixteen new trees have been planted to celebrate National Tree Week and create an avenue feature in King George V Playing Field in Staveley.

Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua Worplesden) trees were planted by children from Staveley Junior School and representatives from the community including Councillors, Friends of King George V Playing Fields, Staveley King George Bowlers and Tree Wardens.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “It was great to go out and plant these new trees with members of the local community. It will create a new tree-lined avenue that will complement the other improvements that we have made to this playing field over the last year. This is a great community space and I hope everyone will enjoy it.”

Using accelerator funding from the Staveley Town Deal a new play area and outside gym were installed in King George V Playing Field in 2021.

These sit next to the skate park and bowling green, ensuring that the playing field is a place the whole community can enjoy.

National Tree Week is a campaign run by The Tree Council and its partners which takes place from 26 November until 4 December.

It marks the start of the annual tree planting season and thousands of trees across the UK will be planted.

The theme this year is #HiddenConnections, celebrating trees as a connecting force of our world. Bringing all of us closer to nature and also revealing the fascinating connected world below ground, from complex root systems to mysterious mycorrhiza.

Find out more about the range of developments taking place in Staveley at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/staveley/

If you want to help care for trees in Chesterfield you can volunteer for the Tree Warden project or you can suggest sites for community tree planting by emailing: greenspaces@chesterfield.gov.uk.

Staveley tree planting team

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Home, Leisure, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

Chesterfield’s brand-new M&S store opens at Ravenside Retail Park

Local people have been supported to secure jobs at the new Marks and Spencer store in Chesterfield, as part of a partnership project with Chesterfield Borough Council.

Located in Ravenside Retail Park, the store is designed with customers and local families at heart with a fresh, market-style Foodhall and a spacious Clothing, Home and Beauty Department, and over 400 car parking spaces.

At 46,000 sqft. the new store marks a big investment for M&S in Chesterfield, with over 100 new recruits joining the current team to welcome customers through the doors.

On the store’s official opening day, (Wednesday, 30th November) the M&S Chesterfield team gathered at the store entrance at 10am with Store Manager, Matt Corker, who was joined by guest of honor, Percy Pig, to cut the ribbon and declare the store officially open.

The opening day was also marked with a live broadcast from North Derbyshire Radio, who hosted the Breakfast and Daytime shows from the shop floor – interviewing colleagues and customers and getting a first-look at all the exciting new features.

Soaking up the opening day celebrations, Store Manager Matt Corker, who has worked at M&S for over 25 years, is exceptionally proud of the new store and his amazing team of of over 200 colleagues.

Matt said: “We’re thrilled to open our brand-new store in Chesterfield today. The last few weeks have been spent putting the finishing touches to our new store and I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone in the team who has worked so hard to make sure everything is ready for our big opening day.”

“The store is an exciting investment in the future of M&S in Chesterfield and I can’t wait for our customers to explore all the new features that the store has to offer. As well as bringing our existing M&S Chesterfield team across to the new store, we’re proud to introduce over 100 new recruits to M&S Chesterfield, who can’t wait to meet everyone. With an amazing new, fresh-market feel Foodhall and a Clothing, Home & Beauty department which is the perfect place to shop your M&S favourites, we really do have the best of M&S here in Chesterfield for everyone to enjoy!”

While acknowledging that it’s disappointing to lose the household name from its central location on the high street – Chesterfield Borough Council has welcomed the firm’s commitment to its future in the borough.

Local people were supported to apply for roles at the new store at a recent recruitment event led by the council.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The opening of this new Marks and Spencer store at Ravenside Retail Park represents a significant investment in our borough.

“Whilst we understand that the move is disappointing for our high street, the company’s decision to remain within our town demonstrates the confidence that this national retailer has in Chesterfield’s future.

“It has also created more than 100 new jobs, and we’ve been working closely with the company to support local people to benefit from these new employment opportunities.”

The council does not own the building which has now been vacated by Marks and Spencer, but is continuing to work with the landlord to explore alternative uses for this key town centre building,

Councillor Sarvent added: “While we have no direct control over the former Marks and Spencer building, we will do all we can to explore and support positive new uses for this central site in our town centre.

“We’re also making significant investments in this area to ensure we can create a modern, vibrant visitor destination which builds confidence in the town – including our ambitious ‘Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield’ town centre regeneration plans which are moving forward after we secured nearly £20m from the Government’s levelling up fund.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Festive fun returns to Chesterfield with annual Christmas Lights switch-on

The Christmas Lights Switch On in Chesterfield will take place on 20 November, and everyone is invited to join us.

Families are invited to watch the stage show in the Market Place from 3pm, but there is a range of entertainment to enjoy in the town centre ahead of this as listed below. The lights switch on itself is at 4.45pm.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The Christmas lights switch on is one of my favourite events of the year. Residents and visitors will have lots to enjoy this year from meeting Shrek in Rykneld Square to seeing the live stage show, there is something to entertain everyone.”

The entertainment will be as follows – these acts will be performing at internals from lunchtime onwards:

  • The Rose Choir will be performing outside the library
  • You will be able to see the Phoenix Concert Band
  • The Pantonic All Stars Steel Band will be performing on Burlington Street
  • There will be walkabout entertainment around the market area including Band Beja, Glowbots, Carol Singing Christmas Crackers, The Greatest Showman Show, the Fairy Godmother and National ELF Service.
  • In the Pavements Shopping Centre, you will be able to see the Victorian Carol Singers performing between Boots and W H Smith
  • Outside Marks and Spencer visitors can meet Percy Pig

Chesterfield Museum

Chesterfield Museum will be offering a pop-up exhibit in the old Wards Shoe Shop (opposite Boots) where visitors can take part in Christmas crafts, Victorian games and handling objects from 10am – 4pm.

Crooked Spire Church

Visit St Mary and All Saints Church, otherwise known as the Crooked Spire, to see A Festival of Christmas Trees from 12pm – 5.30pm.

Stage entertainment

The stage show will start at 3pm and will include The Rose Choir (from Chesterfield Studios), the Carol Singing Christmas Crackers, Band Beja, and interviews with a Councillor and an independent trader.

There will be appearances from Santa, the Mayor and Mayoress and some of the Sleeping Beauty pantomime cast including a song by Olivia Bailey who plays Princess Aurora. The lights will be switched on at 4.45pm and then the crowd will be entertained by The Greatest Showman Show.

The entertainment programme is subject to change.

As one of our most popular events of the year, we expect a high footfall in the town centre so please allow plenty of time to both arrive and depart the event.

Tickets are now on sale to see Sleeping Beauty, this year’s pantomime, at Chesterfield’s Winding Wheel Theatre. You can find out more and book tickets online.

Meet Shrek in Chesterfield

This year’s special guest, in Chesterfield to meet families ahead of the lights switch on, is Shrek.

Shrek will be making personal appearances at intervals between 12pm and 3pm outside the Visitor Information Centre in Rykneld Square.

There is lots going on in Chesterfield throughout the festive season for everyone to enjoy, for more information visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/christmas/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Christmas, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , , ,

Chesterfield residents, businesses and community groups encouraged to have their say on climate change

Residents, businesses and community groups across the borough are being invited to have their say on local plans to reduce the impact of climate change, as part of Chesterfield Borough Council’s ongoing commitment to tackle the climate emergency.

By taking part in the new survey, people can help shape the council’s next climate change strategy which will set out how the authority will continue to reduce its own environmental impact, while working with the community to lower emissions across the borough.

The updated strategy will build on the success of ambitious work already underway to help the council become a carbon neutral organisation by 2030, and to lay the groundwork for Chesterfield to become a carbon neutral borough by 2050.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, deputy leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Since we declared a climate emergency in 2019, we have taken clear and effective action to lower the environmental impact of our services – focussing our efforts where we can make the biggest difference.

“This includes a £13.7m programme to reduce carbon emissions from our council homes, at least 1000 trees being planted each year since 2019, a switch to renewable energy purchases for electricity, and policies across the council which builds a consideration of climate change into all that we do.

“We’re now moving to the next phase of these plans and this updated strategy will underpin our ongoing efforts to achieve our robust targets – ensuring we continue to act now, to safeguard our future.”

Residents, businesses, or community groups can comment on the strategy themes by visiting the council’s website where they can find a background document, glossary, and link to the online survey until Monday 12 December.

Councillor Serjeant added: “The climate crisis is one of the biggest issues facing our communities, now and in the future and we know it’s important to local people and businesses. But we can’t tackle this alone. We need to work together to understand what we need to do and commit to taking further action in the areas we can make the most difference – such as how we use land and buildings across the borough, the transport networks we have and the amount of energy we all use.

“We’re urging residents, businesses and community groups across the borough to review and comment on our plans, to help make sure we create a borough which is safe and sustainable for everyone.”

The council is committed to work towards meeting the 2030 target by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions within its direct control and offsetting those emissions that cannot be eliminated by 2030. The council also aims to work with the community to support the transition to a carbon neutral borough by 2050 at the latest.

The first Climate Change Action Plan was officially adopted by the council in 2020 – and has made strong progress against the 45 actions which were identified for the council to take between 2019 and 2023.

The new strategy builds on these achievements and aims to ensure progress can be maintained to reach the target in 2030.

Annual delivery plans will be developed to support the new strategy and will also be shared with the community to comment on and get involved in the plans.

To take part in the survey please visit the council website before Monday 12 December: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/climate-survey

 

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , ,

Chesterfield’s Regeneration Award winner praises ‘collaborative effort’ on landmark housing project

The winner of the 2022 Love Chesterfield Award for Regeneration, which celebrates the built environment in Chesterfield, has heaped praise on the team who made it possible.

A collaborative project between Chesterfield Borough Council and Henry Boot Construction, Badger Croft is described as the ‘largest council housing development in a generation’ in Chesterfield. The £4.1m development has seen 21 brand-new properties constructed on the former Brockwell Court site in Loundsley Green.

The development is providing families with modern homes that have been designed for a more eco-conscious lifestyle. Increased levels of insulation throughout and electric vehicle charging points have been installed on properties with driveways to support lower carbon transport options.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “We are delighted that the Badger Croft development has been recognised and won the regeneration award at this year’s Love Chesterfield Awards. The win really is a testament to all the hard work and dedication that has been put in by the council, alongside our partners, Henry Boot Construction.

“Badger Croft is the biggest council housing development of this generation in Chesterfield and marks a huge milestone in our efforts to increase the housing supply across the borough.

“Creating attractive places for residents is at the very heart of what we do and these new properties allow us to provide affordable, modern and accessible homes for families in our borough.”

We recently caught up with Tony Shaw, Managing Director at Henry Boot Construction, to get the company’s reaction to winning the award…

Regeneration 873x466

Tell us how pleased you are to have won the Regeneration Award at the Love Chesterfield Awards 2022!

We are delighted that Badger Croft won the Regeneration Award, the project was a collaborative effort between everyone involved which led to a brilliant end product, so it’s great to see the project recognised for its regenerative impact in Chesterfield. The Regeneration award is testament to the hard work of the team in transforming the area into quality housing for local families.

How exciting has the Badger Croft project been to work on as a company, and how much of a benefit has the project had on our local community?

As a company based in Dronfield, working on the project with Chesterfield Borough Council had a really local feeling and this was emphasised by our trusted supply chain, with the brickwork, joinery, plastering, plumbing, roofing and window installation all completed by subcontractors who were based within 20 miles of the site.

In conjunction with the Council, we worked closely with Holmebrook Conservation and Improvement Group to implement key landscaping works in the surrounding area. These works were designed to enhance the attractiveness of the area and boost biodiversity. It included the creation of wildflower meadow paths, new wooden planters and fruit trees, all for the benefit of the local community.

Sustainable development is of upmost importance currently – Tell us about the measures you’ve put in place at Badger Croft to ensure the new homes are efficient.

As champions of sustainability, we completely understood the Council’s need for Badger Croft to take account of environmental issues and contribute to a greener future. The new homes were fitted with increased levels of insulation. These naturally warm and energy-efficient homes are not only better for the environment, but they also reduce the running costs for tenants – something that is extremely important in a period of rising living costs and fuel poverty. The homes also boast electric vehicle charging points in the driveways, helping to future-proof the development and encourage the use of more sustainable modes of transport.

With Chesterfield becoming an increasingly attractive place for young families, how vital is it that we create affordable housing to ensure continued growth in the town?

Projects like Badger Croft are of paramount importance to delivering Chesterfield Borough Council’s commitment to increase the supply of affordable properties across the borough. The project is a prime example of how under-utilised brownfield land can be transformed into bright modern homes, not only providing a place for people to live and thrive, but improving the look and feel of the surrounding area. With a mix of 21 new accessible, efficient 3-4 bedroom homes, this is the largest council housing development in the borough since the 1980s. All the homes were added to the Council’s housing register and let to local families.

Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Group works collaboratively with Chesterfield Borough Council to highlight the town’s ongoing regeneration. Why is creating strong relationships between public and private sector so important?

Chesterfield is a hive of regeneration activity and it is brilliant to see a number of other exciting completed and on-going projects constantly improving Chesterfield’s offer. We believe in nurturing a collaborative approach across all our operations – by building strong relationships with all our public and private sector partners, all parties benefit from increased expertise and open communication, ensuring the Badger Croft project proceeded smoothly. The final result was only possible through an open culture of strong engagement between Henry Boot, its specialist consultants and supply chain and the team at Chesterfield Borough Council.

Find out more about the Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Property and Construction Group, which brings together business leaders of the region’s property sector and Chesterfield Borough Council to shape and drive forward collaboration, investment, sustainability and skills within Chesterfield

https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/propertygroup/ 

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