Chesterfield is once again bucking the trend.
Despite the challenges of Covid, the town is pressing ahead with major developments and gearing up for a tourism boom.
Chesterfield Borough Council launched a £3.5 million project to revamp the outdoor market place and extend the public space in the town’s Northern Gateway area.
As part of the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield (RHOC) project, the town’s historic outdoor market will get improved access, better lighting and power, new trading areas and repairs to existing stalls.
The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership has contributed £650,000 towards RHOC. The funding will support the creation of 66 jobs as well as safeguard 80 jobs on the outdoor market.
Chesterfield’s open air market is one of the oldest markets in England and has been trading for over 800 years. Alongside the town’s Crooked Spire church, the market is a popular tourist attraction. The upgrade will see the market readied for the UK’s first fully serviced national park gateway which will be located at PEAK Resort near Chesterfield.
PEAK is an all year leisure, education, wellness and entertainment destination set in 300 acres of reclaimed parkland on the edge of the Peak District National Park and Chesterfield. It forms a key part of the growth plan for Chesterfield and it is expected to be a tourist attraction of national significance.
The Peak District already attracts 13 million tourism visits each year with 61 per cent of visitors originating from the east side (Chesterfield). Demand for all national parks is predicted to rise exponentially following the Coronavirus outbreak and the boom in the staycation market.
Construction is expected to start in 2021 on the gateway which will be located on the eastern boundary of the Peak District. The new gateway is the result of a unique joint venture formed by Specialist developer Milligan with landowner Birchall Properties and working together with Chesterfield Borough Council, the Peak District National Park Authority and the University of Derby
Work on the all-weather, all-year, all-ages David Lloyd Adrenalin World is already underway at PEAK and is expected to open in Spring 2021.
2021 will also see the opening of the new Enterprise Centre at Holywell Cross near Elder Way and also seven-storey office accommodation at Chesterfield Waterside. Construction of the state-of-the art offices at No.1 Waterside Place are expected to be completed in August 2021.
In spite of Covid, progress is being made across the town, including Elder Way.
Mark Hill, Commercial Property Director of Jomast Developments which is developing Elder Way, said: “Despite Covid, we are progressing discussions with interested tenants for the units at Elder Way. Chesterfield’s resilience in the face adversity has been impressive. The decision to progress with construction of the Enterprise Centre has given potential investors a boost of confidence.”
The progress with recent developments mirror bold decisions made by the town 10 years ago. Amidst a global recession Chesterfield Borough Council launched Destination Chesterfield, announcing that the town was open and ready to do business.
Since 2010, the town has attracted more than £1 billion of investment, including three UK-leading projects – Chesterfield Waterside, PEAK and Markham Vale.
If you want to be part of Chesterfield’s growing visitor economy, get in touch with our team now to discover what Elder Way can offer your business.
For more details about the available units and business space at Elder Way, please contact Jomast Developments on 01642 666942.