Chesterfield Market is ready to welcome visitors and shoppers to the first completed phase of the multi-million-pound regeneration project to revitalise the market and public spaces.
Work in the upper half of the Market square has included the installation of new feature paving, relaying of the traditional cobbles, the creation of bespoke market stalls, new street furniture and improvements to drainage, security and other infrastructure.
The second phase of the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project will now begin in the lower half of the Market square. It includes similar work to create a more open market that can support a wider range of markets and events.
Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “These exciting improvements are just the start of our town centre transformation, we’re enhancing the look and feel of the market but also providing traders with better facilities and creating more flexible spaces that will support a wider range of uses.
“It’s fantastic to see these improvements come to life and I hope that everyone can see what we are trying to achieve across our town centre. We’ll continue to work with our market traders and town centre businesses to minimise disruption as further phases of our regeneration project progress.”
Steve Siddall, whose family have been selling bedding and soft furnishings on Chesterfield Market for more than 70 years, said: “I like the new stalls, really sturdy and plenty of room. I’m looking forward to getting trading and welcoming new customers to my stall.”
The works are being carried out on behalf of the council by Thomas Bow.
John Allen, Construction Director at Thomas Bow, said: “After much hard work by our teams, both in the planning stage and delivery, it’s great to see the first phase of this high-profile scheme completed. As part of our commitment to delivering a positive impact through our works, and also the wider community, we have been busy behind the scenes working with local community groups, schools and colleges, educating young people on the civil engineering industry and providing a T level placement for a student within our offices.”
Works in the lower half of the market square will begin with the historic cobbles being lifted, and re-laid and some new paving will also be installed – together this will maintain the historic look but will provide a more level surface throughout the Market Place, making it easier for people with accessibility issues such as wheelchair and mobility scooter users or parents with pushchairs to navigate the market.
While works on phase two are underway a small number of traders will be on stalls in a new temporary market area in New Square.
New market stalls will be built and a new central area in the market place will have feature paving inspired by designs in the Market Hall and provide space for food traders and to support town centre events.
Later this year work will begin on New Square which will be opened up to create a new flexible events space but also provide additional stalls for busy market days.
Further phases of works include Rykneld Square which will be transformed to create a green and welcoming space from which to enjoy our much-loved Crooked Spire.
Improvements to Corporation Street will create a new gateway to the refurbished Stephenson Memorial Hall, which houses the Pomegranate Theatre and Chesterfield Museum.
The project is funded through an almost £20 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. With the funding split between town centre regeneration works and the refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall.
Find out more about the works taking place in Chesterfield town centre: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/revitalising-heart-of-chesterfield/
For more information or to sign up for project updates by email, please visit: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/revitalise
