Whittam Cox Architects Archives - Destination Chesterfield

Year of progress for Chesterfield’s property and construction sector

15th December 2023

2023 has been a year of strong progress for Chesterfield’s property and construction sector, with many of the town’s major investment schemes reaching milestones.

Office success

Opened in January 2023, the new office space at One Waterside Place was fully occupied less than 12 months later. The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has also seen success with 80% of office space let by its first anniversary.

Town centre investment

These new hubs are encouraging further inward investment in our town centre, boosting jobs, and increasing footfall to support other surrounding businesses. One example is the apartment hotel planned opposite the Enterprise Centre. The £1m Holywell Hotel by Voeberg will boost overnight stays in our town for both business and leisure, supporting the town’s ambitious growth strategy.

At the Chesterfield Investment Summit back in October, we heard about the investment going into town centres across the borough. Almost £9m will be spent on improving Chesterfield town centre, with a revamp of the marketplace and key points of interest around the heart of the town, and a £17m project has begun to remodel and refurbish the Stephenson Memorial Hall – extending the Pomegranate Theatre and modernising Chesterfield Museum.

Investing in skills

In addition, Staveley’s high street will see a £6 million boost which will transform the area and make our town a more attractive proposition for visitors and businesses in the retail and food and drink sectors. The funding is part of a £25m deal to spend on 10 regeneration projects for Staveley, including the restoration of Chesterfield Canal up to Renishaw, Hartington Industrial Park, which has now been levelled, a modern rail innovation and training centre at Barrow Hill, which invited tenders at the end of 2023, and the Construction Skills Hub.

I’m delighted to see the new mobile Construction Skills Hub now operational, initially at Mastin Moor, helping to bring forward the next generation of talent in the sector. We know that firms are currently facing recruitment issues due to a skills shortage. So, we are all excited by the prospect of 5,000 learners being trained right here in Chesterfield between now and 2030. I can only speak from experience when I say that a career in property is a truly rewarding and exciting one!

It was also fantastic to see the latest plans for The Gateway @PEAK revealed at the Chesterfield Investment Summit, bringing an all-year leisure, education, wellness, and entertainment destination to our town, further cementing Chesterfield’s credentials as a base for exploring the beautiful Peak District.

Partnership working

Throughout this year, Chesterfield Property and Construction Group members have played an important role in increasing partnerships between the public and private sectors. The group has consistently focused on 5 key themes. These include town promotion, skills and talent development, business engagement, addressing the climate emergency, and providing support to the Local Authority’s endeavours in supporting the town and the property sector.

In 2023, the group tailored its activities to deliver tangible outcomes, including:

Property Forums: Providing updates on the latest market activity to local property businesses.
Activity at UKREiiF: Group members attended the event in Leeds, which is seen as one of the UK’s largest investment shows. The group, alongside Destination Chesterfield, officially launched the Chesterfield Investment Prospectus and championed the town during panel discussions and networking sessions with sector colleagues.
Careers Made in Chesterfield: 11 businesses participated in workshops at Parkside Community School to showcase the range of careers available within the industry to 110 students. This resulted in 14 high-quality placements for young people to learn about the property and construction sector.
Skills and Talent Masterclass: Facilitating discussions among key figures from property and construction, alongside skills and training providers, to address the sector’s skills challenges.
Quality and Sustainability Masterclass: Exploring sustainable development in Chesterfield and emphasizing its importance for the town’s future.
Regular Social Media Activity: Highlighting key industry updates on topics such as skills, sustainability, and diversity, and promoting town developments.
Networking and Social Events: Including walking tours and brewery visits to support business-to-business relationship development.

The group, part of Destination Chesterfield, will continue its focus on building resilience and collaborating to support Chesterfield’s economy. Chesterfield remains an attractive destination for investment. We look forward to strengthening existing relationships, as well as forging new ones, and adapting to the evolving needs of the town.

Professionals within the Property and Construction Sector keen on learning more about the group’s plans are encouraged to reach out to Destination Chesterfield by email.

Whittam Cox Architects recognised in this year’s Building Top 150

19th October 2023

For the eighth consecutive year, Chesterfield’s Whittam Cox Architects has secured its spot in the prestigious Top 50 UK Architects and Top 150 UK Consultants rankings.

Each year, the renowned industry publication ‘Building’ conducts a comprehensive survey of consultants from all disciplines throughout the UK to compile a league table showcasing the country’s top consulting firms.

This survey covers a range of aspects, including financial performance, workforce size, and opinions on market conditions, skills, and the future prospects for the industry. This year, Whittam Cox achieved a ranking of 27 out of the top 50 architect practices, marking a significant advancement from our 40th position last year.

The company says this year’s Top 150 Consultants survey paints an encouraging picture of increased optimism and greater stability. Nevertheless, there remains a notable degree of caution and uncertainty primarily stemming from the continued influence of the macroeconomic climate, which poses ongoing challenges to the construction industry.

Other key concerns highlighted by consultants included staffing issues with attracting and retaining talent, geopolitical events, the impending impact of the Building Safety Act, the ever-pressing issue of climate change, and the accessibility of funding – all playing pivotal roles in shaping our industry’s landscape.

Commenting on the latest milestone, Whittam Cox Board Director Nick Riley said: “This is very positive progression for us, and a reflection of the talent and dedication of colleagues across our entire practice; it’s great to be recognised externally again. Looking ahead, despite obvious headwinds, we remain optimistic about the industry and the sectors we operate in, and our continued evolution as a business.”

The company plays an active role in Chesterfield’s Property and Construction Group. Chaired by Whittam Cox’s Andy Dabbs, the group helps to shape and drive forward collaboration, investment, sustainability and skills within the town.

Whittam Cox Architects supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.