About Chesterfield

Work underway on £5.5m Chesterfield housing development

Rockliffe Homes Ltd has begun work on a £5.5m development that will result in 37 new homes being built in Brimington, Chesterfield.

Ringwood Meadows, which consists of a mix of two, three and four bedroom homes, has progressed thanks to financial backing from the Homes & Communities Agency by way of the new, recently announced £3 billion House Building Fund.

It is already attracting interest from buyers; with local estate agent Wilkins Vardy appointed to oversee sales.

Contractor Atkinson Construction Group is now on site building the houses, with the first phase of the scheme scheduled for completion in 2017. Available to purchase through the Government’s Help to Buy scheme, the site will address the ‘very pressing’ need for more housing in and around Chesterfield.

Anuj Joshi, Managing Director at Rockliffe Homes’ said:-

“Ringwood Meadows is ideally located close to local amenities including everything the Hollingwood Hub has to offer, whilst also bordering beautiful, open countryside.

“Furthermore, this scheme is on track to provide families and young professionals with access to well appointed, quality homes that are designed to address the shortage of properties here in Chesterfield.

“We are also delighted to be able to offer the Help to Buy scheme to purchasers which is a fantastic initiative dedicated to helping people who are looking to make their way onto the first rung of the property ladder to fulfil their ambitions.”

The company, has secured additional funding from the Homes and Communities Agency which will allow it to acquire and develop new sites in the region with a focus on bringing high quality homes to areas experiencing a housing shortage.

Craig Johns, Senior Transaction Manager at the Homes and Communities Agency, said:-

“Providing a loan to Rockliffe Homes, will not only create 37 new homes in Brimington, but will also support Rockliffe Homes in its continued expansion. It is fantastic that our investment will not only increase the number of homes available for local people but will also create skilled jobs on brownfield land.”

Dan Elliott, Managing Director of Chesterfield based estate agents Wilkins Vardy, said:-

“We have been met with superb levels of interest for this development. Phase 1 was released in September 2016, and all plots were reserved soon after. We already have names and numbers of people wanting to reserve on phase 2, which will be released in the summer.

“We know that there is real demand for quality, family housing in and around Chesterfield, and so it is not surprising that so many people are responding quickly to what promises to be a very practical yet picturesque development.”

John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council leader, on a site visit recently said:-

”It’s an exciting quality development and very welcome in Brimington. It is particularly pleasing the homes are being bought mainly by local first time buyers.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, who is County Councillor and Leader elect in Chesterfield, added:-

”The work is proceeding at a pace and the first phase is due for occupancy in the early Autumn. This is the first development of this quality and size in our village for a long time. We want to be able to welcome the new homeowners as soon as they are settled in their new homes.”

Councillor Terry Gilby, the Deputy Leader and planning cabinet member for the Borough,  who was also on site said:-

“To see the unused Day Care centre site coming back to life in such a way is testament to how we support Brown field sites for housing development. The homes are in such demand because the buying price is assisted by the Help to Buy scheme, when complete it will be a welcome addition to the hosing available in the borough”.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

New framework to help young people in Derbyshire engage in more active and healthy lives is unveiled

A renewed push to help young people in Derbyshire engage in more active and healthy lives has been outlined with the launch of Young Active Healthy – A Physical Activity and Sport Framework for Young People 2017 – 2021.

Physical activity levels for young people are alarmingly low across England, with the vast majority failing to meet minimum daily guidelines, and lifetime physical activity levels declining from the age of nine.

This new framework, launched by Derbyshire Sport, looks to address these challenges in Derbyshire, and aims to engage everyone from birth to 25, with a core focus on building positive attitudes to physical activity and sport in those aged five to 18.

The framework’s 27 outcomes will also aim to ensure young people remain active and address participation inequalities for girls, lower socio economic groups and disabled young people.

At an event to launch the framework, invited guests heard from Dean Wallace, Director of Public Health, Derbyshire County Council; Andy Knowles, Head Teacher, Tupton Hall School; Mark Tournier, Development Manager, Youth Sport Trust; Hayley Lever, Director, Derbyshire Sport; and Craig Homer, Sport Development Manager, Derbyshire Sport.

This was followed by discussions on how to help young people in Derbyshire engage in active and healthy lives both within places of learning and outside of the school day.

Hayley Lever, Director of Derbyshire Sport, said:-

“Think about individuals you know – what is it that you can do to get them active. There are massive challenges that get in the way, but I feel that if we tackle the outcomes in this framework it will make it more likely that young people will find a lifelong love of physical activity.”

Dean Wallace, Director of Public Health at Derbyshire County Council, also challenged those in the room to engage with a wider cross section of professionals and work with those in the NHS, housing, planning and other sectors to achieve the outcomes in the plan.

He also said the emphasis should be on encouraging young people to live active lives, rather than doing 60 minutes of physical activity per day and then being sedentary for the rest of the day.

He said:-

“We want people to sit less and do more. Physical activity is important throughout life. If we can get it right at the start it is much easier later in life and the positive impact on the NHS would be massive.”

Young Active Healthy is split into five delivery themes: Active Schools and Early Years Providers, Active Sixth Forms, Further and Higher Education, Active Families and Communities, Active Travel, and Active Workforce.  Put simply, young people need to be supported to be active at school, at home, and in the community, choose active travel such as walking and cycling wherever possible, and be guided by peers, parents, carers, volunteers and the professional workforce.

According to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) guidelines, once able to walk children under five should be physically active every day for at least 180 minutes, spread throughout the day. All five to 17 year olds should engage in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for at least 60 minutes and up to several hours every day, and for 18 to 25 year olds this figure is at least 150 minutes per week, in bouts of ten minutes or more.

Posted in About Chesterfield

Regeneration of Basin Square moves closer

Regeneration of a key Chesterfield site has moved a step closer as works are completed to prepare the ground conditions at the former Trebor factory site, ahead of the Basin Square phase of the Chesterfield Waterside development.

Chesterfield Borough Council is a partner in the project, which is listed by Regeneration and Renewal magazine as the 47th largest regeneration project in the UK.

The project is led by Chesterfield-based Bolsterstone Group plc, with Arnold Laver Group as stakeholders in the project.

Ground works to prepare the Basin Square site have been carried out by Chesterfield-based company NT Killingley Ltd.

As part of the groundworks contract, an acoustic noise bund has also been built alongside the A61 on the former Arnold Laver site, which will pave the way for approximately 300 family homes to be built in the Park area of the Waterside development.

The first phase of residential housing on Brimington Road, comprising 19 new homes was developed for Great Places Housing Association, are now complete and fully occupied.

The site enabling works were carried out thanks to a £2.7 million grant from the Sheffield City Region Infrastructure Fund.

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader, said:-

“Chesterfield Waterside is key to transforming the borough’s economy.

“The next phase, which will create more than 300 new jobs, is happening now thanks to our place at the Sheffield City Region table and our ability to negotiate grant funding allowing the developers to bring this work forward.”

Peter Swallow, Director of the Bolsterstone Group plc, said:-

“I am delighted that the works to restore and prepare this area of the site are now complete after many months of planning and four months of site works.

“All the old buildings, related foundations, drainage, etc have been removed, leaving clear development platforms.

“Completion of this work, coupled with the recent grant of planning permission for the heights and massing of the proposed buildings, means that we are now in a position to move forward and complete negotiations with investors and occupiers for the delivery of the first phase of Basin Square at Chesterfield Waterside. It is a very exciting time.”

Sir Nigel Knowles, Chair of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said:-

“Sheffield City Region is proud to support the regeneration of Chesterfield Waterside as we work together to build a truly competitive centre of business excellence.

“Sheffield City Region Investment Fund is our major capital programme which enables local leaders to work together to leverage private and public sector investment more effectively.

“Chesterfield Waterside, which will create hundreds of jobs and boost the economy, is an excellent example of our very robust approach to prioritising and selecting the highest standard of programmes.

“We are confident that every pound invested in Chesterfield Waterside will maximise economic growth, boost business and create more and better jobs.”

When complete, the Chesterfield Waterside development will include:

  • 1,500 modern houses and apartments
  • New employment opportunities in Grade A office accommodation situated directly adjacent to Chesterfield’s railway station
  • An 84-bed hotel
  • Multi-storey car park with approximately 440 spaces
  • Shops, cafés and bars around the new canal basin and public square
  • A network of open spaces and a park along a rejuvenated Chesterfield Canal and River Rother.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

3G artificial pitches feasibility study for former sports centre site

A detailed feasibility study will be carried out with a  view to installing 3G artificial sports pitches on the site of the former Queen’s Park Sports Centre.

At a meeting of Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet today, Tuesday 7 March, councillors agreed that the study should look in greater detail at options for having 3G artificial sports pitches on the Boythorpe Road site that are suitable for use by different sports. These could include football, rugby, hockey and athletics.

The study will be developed with the input of key stakeholders, including potential contractors, operators of similar facilities, local sports clubs and the Friends of Queen’s Park.

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said:

“From the options considered in the public consultation 3G artificial sports pitches appears the best way to meet our desire to have a use on the former Queen’s Park Sports Centre site that provides value for money for our residents, fits in with the heritage nature of the grade II* listed Queen’s Park and is financially viable.

The next stage to make this a reality is to produce a detailed feasibility study and business case that examines the different ways this could be delivered, the cost of doing it and the return on investment it would provide. Any income generated would be invested back in providing frontline council services.”

A consultation held with residents in September and October last year found that 69 per cent of the 583 people who responded agreed with this plan for the site.

At their February meeting, councillors also received a petition led by Chesterfield residents Adrian and Donna Todd that the council should build and run an ice rink on the site.

Councillors passed a motion that although the council is not able to afford to build and operate an ice rink, it would support any private operators who may plan to build one in the borough in the future.

Queens Park Sports Centre Consultation

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development, Leisure

HS2 proposals welcomed

Councillors have welcomed revised proposals which would see HS2 trains stop in Chesterfield.
In their response to a Government consultation, at their meeting on Tuesday 7 March, members of Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet welcomed the proposed new route from the West Midlands to Leeds, including a stop in Chesterfield and a maintenance depot in Staveley.

They agreed that:

• The council welcomes the proposed stop in Chesterfield, which will bring reduced journey times to London and Birmingham and encourage growth in the borough’s economy

• The council will continue to call for more frequent services rather than the current plans for one train per hour to maximise these benefits

• The latest plans to realign the main HS2 route further east north of M1 J29, closer to Bolsover would reduce the impact on residential properties in Woodthorpe and Netherthorpe and on the Markham Vale development

• The revised layout of the Staveley depot fits better with existing plans to develop the Chesterfield-Staveley Regeneration Route; the new plans reduce the impact on the Chesterfield Canal restoration project by crossing the canal route only once

• Government should take early decisions about the route and accelerate construction from the north in order that jobs and opportunities for the borough come as soon as possible.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “HS2 is a once in a generation opportunity to improve transport links and we want to make sure that Chesterfield people benefit from this.
“There are strong economic reasons for the project and having a stop on the route in Chesterfield as well as a maintenance depot in Staveley will offer great opportunities for our residents in terms of journey times and to grow our economy.
“We are pleased that the revised plans for access to the depot have taken into account our previous concerns but we acknowledge that further work is needed to mitigate the concerns of residents living next to the proposed line and we will continue to support them in this.”

Residents had the opportunity to comment on the proposals for the route in a consultation event run by HS2 Ltd held in Staveley last month.

In developing its reply to the consultation, the council has used networks created through its HS2 board chaired by the council leader which brings together a wide range of partners, including Derbyshire County Council, to maximise opportunities for the route across north Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Recruitment drive begins at state of the art distribution centre

The recruitment process at Ferdinand Bilstein UK Ltd’s state of the art distribution centre has officially begun.

The first three positions being advertised are for DC Team Managers, and applications are now open. The team manager positions are some of the first full-time opportunities the company has offered at Markham Vale, and the successful applicants will be part of the first group of people to start working at the new state of the art facility, getting the benefits of a brand new, high quality environment and workspace, with the latest technology to assist with tasks.

With up to 200 new jobs being created on the site at Markham Vale, there will be plenty of opportunities to join the company as it continues to gear towards its grand opening. The next recruitment stage will focus on filling roles within various areas of the business, including in the quality inspection department.

Ferdinand Bilstein UK Ltd are organising a huge recruitment open day in September as part of their recruitment drive, allowing people from the local area to have a first look at the new building and facilities. This will offer a sneak peek for those interested in working for the company to see what their day to day environment would look like.

For more information about jobs available within the company click here.

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development

Survey reveals parent power can unlock the potential of apprenticeships for young people in Derbyshire

Learning Unlimited say parents could hold the power to help their children make the right career and study choices. They have pledged to help them get the right information after the findings of their survey highlighted that misconceptions about modern apprenticeships could mean young people aren’t getting the right advice.

A recent survey commissioned by the apprenticeship provider indicates that almost a third of parents of secondary school age children surveyed in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire aren’t aware that apprenticeships are available in their area and almost two-thirds don’t know what industries apprenticeships are available in.

The survey highlighted that although parents are broadly supportive of apprenticeships, they might not know how far earning and learning in this way can take their child or what apprenticeship roles are available.

Learning Unlimited say it is time for apprenticeship providers and employers to work much closer with parents to help them understand the opportunities that modern apprenticeships can offer their children. They are launching initiatives during National Apprenticeship Week (6 -10 March) to help parents get the information they need.

Julie Richards, Principal and Chief Executive of Learning Unlimited, part of the Chesterfield College Group said:

“We believe that by working more closely with parents we can help young people find out if an apprenticeship is the best way to get the experience and qualifications they need for a successful career.”

“Apprenticeships have changed so much in the last few years and keeping up with the changes can be a challenge. We want to work closer with parents to help them understand the changes so they are better equipped to consider apprenticeships as an option. We are providing a range of ways for parents to get the latest facts and information to assist them when it comes to helping their children make the right choice for the future.”

The survey also revealed that there is still some way to go to convince parents that apprenticeships can offer a good way for their children to gain qualifications. Only just over half of parents of secondary school children across the country and 64% in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire agree that apprenticeships offer the same opportunities as full time study. Similarly, almost half of the parents surveyed either didn’t know or believed that apprenticeships were for ‘non-academic’ learners.

Claire Wood, Co-owner of Stephensons coffee shop in Chesterfield, an ex-teacher who now employs apprentices and is a parent of an apprentice has a unique insight into how valuable apprenticeships are and where they can lead. She told us:

“As a business owner, I believe apprentices are vital to give the organisation the skills it needs. Apprenticeships are also good for the local economy and help me to employ local people. As a parent, I have seen how apprenticeships have enabled my son to develop a passion for something he loves at the same time as getting the qualifications that will help his career to develop in the future. He is now a co-owner of the business, managing a team of staff including other apprentices and is ahead of peers who chose the university route.”

A helpful parent’s guide to apprenticeships is available at  www.learningunlimiteduk.com/parents-guide

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

Nominate your favourite eatery for a Heart of Derbyshire award

Residents with an interest in tasty food and healthy eating are being asked to nominate their favourite food businesses for a Heart of Derbyshire award.

Whether it’s a burger bar, takeaway, café or restaurant, if they offer healthier meal choices, then Derbyshire County Council want to hear about them.

The council launched the Heart of Derbyshire scheme as a way of letting people search for healthier options when dining out.

Businesses in the scheme have signed up to a range of pledges ranging from using less salt, sugar or fat in foods to offering smaller portions or providing allergen free meals.

Councillor Dave Allen, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities at Derbyshire County Council, said:

“We’re working to make healthier eating choices the easy choice and that’s why we set up the Heart of Derbyshire scheme.

“It lets customers make simple, informed decisions about what they are eating and allows businesses to showcase their healthy eating credentials.”

Over 170 businesses are already signed up to the Heart of Derbyshire scheme.

People nominating a business will be entered into a free prize draw to win a healthy eating prize.

Councillor Allen added:-

“A growing percentage of people are now classed as overweight or obese and this is impacting on the health and economy of the country.

“Because of the negative financial and health impact that obesity has on communities, businesses, local authorities and the NHS, we need to act now to help address the problem.

“We’re encouraging residents to make small changes to the way they eat in order to make big differences to their health.”

Posted in About Chesterfield, Visiting

Mobile Hospice launches thanks to Westfield Health Donation

Ashgate Hospicecare is proud to announce that they have officially launched a Specialist Palliative Care Mobile Clinic and Information Service for the High Peak and Derbyshire Dale area thanks to a generous donation from Westfield Health.

The mobile hospice aims to provide hospice care, information and assessment to patients and carers in rural areas furthest from Ashgate Hospicecare, as well as being a greater physical presence where people are less aware of the services they can access.

Claire Blakey, Head of Community Services, said:-

“I think we need to be more creative and more effective in the delivery of services as more people need hospice care and the need for community focused health care rises. We need to show a presence across our whole catchment area, from Buxton to Whitwell, Matlock to Dronfield. At the same time we need to increase our visibility and accessibility to advice, support and services.”

“The donation from Westfield Health is hugely important in helping us to achieve more face to face contact between our nurses and less mobile patients by providing local nurse led clinics. It gives us the opportunity to educate and empower patients and carers who need specialist palliative care to be as informed as possible.”

By introducing a new mobile service, Ashgate Hospicecare will be able to provide a quicker response to referrals from GPs and district nurses as well as reduce travel time for vulnerable patients and carers who need to access hospice advice and information.

Graham Moore, Chairman of Sheffield-based health and wellbeing provider Westfield Health said:-

“We are delighted to be supporting Ashgate Hospicecare. The mobile hospice is a fantastic project and one which I am sure will make a real difference to people in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dale areas. We wish Ashgate Hospicecare all the very best in the delivery of the service and hope it is a great success.”

Wendy Staton, Clinical Nurse Specialist at Ashgate Hospicecare, said:-

“While the clinic has been parked in various places we have had a lot of interest from many people who just happen to be passing. We have had a very positive response from local people and many asking what our service is about, some offering to volunteer, offering donations and those with experience of our service.”

“It has been really interesting meeting the people who have approached the clinic and we are networking with other local agencies as a result. This is all because Ashgate Hospicecare is now visible and accessible for patients and carers with palliative care needs.”

“We would like to thank local High Peak people for their positive support so far. We are a community service and feel welcomed by everyone we have met.”

Posted in About Chesterfield

Chamber welcomes £500m pledge to improve vocational and technical training

Chancellor Philip Hammond’s pledge at the weekend of an additional £500m to boost vocational and technical skills has been welcomed by East Midlands Chamber.

Mr Hammond described the “shake-up” to education that will come from the additional funding as “the biggest since the introduction of A-levels 70 years ago”.

Chris Hobson, the Chamber’s Director of Policy, said: “For many years we have been striving for closer integration between employers and education.

“The lack of skills demonstrated by young people looking for their first job is a recurrent issue in our quarterly economic surveys, but so is the paucity of available workers with enhanced and specialist skills, particularly in the engineering sector.

“For too long, apprenticeships were seen as the poor relation to a degree-level education, but this is far from being true as on-the-job training is the only real way to acquire the hands-on skills and experience employers need.

“With the potential scenario of not being able to recruit from a pan-European pool of trained workers once Britain has left the EU, now more than ever it is essential that young people leaving education in the UK have the skills to fill the void.

“The £500m pledged by the Chancellor for courses starting in the 2019/20 academic year will go some way towards helping to close the skills gap but that means it could be 2022 – five years from now and three years after we, potentially, lose the available pool of skilled workers – before employers begin to feel any appreciable benefit.

“We would urge Chancellor Hammond and Education Secretary Justine Greening to work together now to find funding and devise programmes to begin closing the skills gap much earlier than five years from now.”

East Midlands Chamber logo

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business

North Derbyshire set to go mutts for Ashgate Hospicecare’s Woofs and Wellies event

On Sunday 12th March 2017, Chesterfield-based Ashgate Hospicecare’s sponsored dog walking event, Woofs and Wellies, returns for another year of tail-wagging fun.

The walk, which is kindly sponsored by Dunston Lodge Dog Boarding & Grooming, will set off from Ashgate Hospicecare at 10am and will take participants around the beautiful Linacre Reservoirs.

Beth Cole, Events Assistant at Ashgate Hospicecare, said:-

“Here at the hospice we know how important pets are to our patients, especially their dogs. We really want local people to all come together on the 12th, make friends and reach our goal of 150 wagging tails at Woofs and Wellies. It’s such an enjoyable day and I can’t wait to see everyone there raising money for their local hospice.”

Studio 1 Photography will be donating a pet portrait voucher worth £14.99 including a desktop print to everyone that takes part in the event this year.  There will be stalls to purchase products for your pet, refreshments as well as a chance to take on a small agility course with your dog.

Laura Harrison, whose dad was cared for at Ashgate Hospicecare, said:-

“I don’t know where we would have been without Ashgate – it probably would have been a nightmare. We couldn’t have done the last few weeks without the hospice which is why we’re fundraising for them as much as we can. A team of our close friends and family took part in the ‘Woofs and Wellies’ event last year. It’s such an amazing event.”

Posted in About Chesterfield