Thirteen new modern units for small to medium-sized businesses have been built at the Derbyshire County Council and Henry Boot Development’s flagship regeneration site Markham Vale.

The units, ranging in size from 1,200 to 3,050 sq. ft, are available to purchase or lease and have been built by Barnsley-based property developer Priority Space in partnership with the Hunt Group.

An online campaign was launched by the company to name the new development and the winning entry was Wilson Business Park in memory of Johnny Wilson who lost his life while working on site as a miner in the former Markham Colliery in 1987.

The name was submitted by local Derbyshire resident Andy Carroll − Johnny’s friend and colleague.

Lee Buchanan, Director at Priority Space, said:

“We are delighted to have brought forward a new modern industrial scheme at Markham Vale and are extremely happy with the level of enquires that we are receiving. There will be an open day on the morning of the 5 and 6 September for people who would like to view the new units.”

Councillor Tony King, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at Derbyshire County Council, said:-

“We’re delighted to welcome these new units to Markham Vale. They offer a great space for small to medium-sized businesses looking to either expand or start-up and have fantastic transport links being located just off junction 29A of the M1 motorway.

He added:-

“It’s an exciting time at Markham Vale − the site is now home to 42 businesses and more than 1,000 new jobs have been created so far. And we look forward to welcoming even more businesses over the next few months to join Markham’s thriving business community.”

Businesses interested in the new units can contact Stuart Waite from CPP Commercial Property Partners for more information by emailing stuart@cppartners.co.uk or by calling 0115 8966611.

Anthony Clitheroe from Henry Boot Developments − Derbyshire County Councils’ private sector property partner – said:-

“We are delighted to see the Wilson Business Park open for business and look forward to welcoming new businesses to Markham Vale in the near future.”

Scunthorpe-based construction firm Britcon (UK) Limited built the units on behalf of Priority Space and the Hunt Group.

New figures from the Department for International Trade show that foreign investment into the Sheffield City Region (SCR) leapt by a massive 73% in the financial year to the end of March compared to previous 12 months.

The Government figures, produced annually, show that there were 46 investments by foreign businesses, creating 2308 new jobs and safeguarding another 217.

Chesterfield Champions, Ferdinand Bilstein, being amongst the top five project successes taking on 150 employees in the last year alone.

This makes it the most successful year for international investment in the region since the SCR was created.

Teams from the regeneration departments of the nine local authorities are supported by the region-wide SCR Trade and Investment team to work together to attract foreign companies from overseas, and others already based in the UK looking to relocate and expand.

Rachel Clark, Director of Trade and Investment for the SCR, said:-

“These excellent figures are the exciting result of collaborative work with our local authority and business partners and the Department for International Trade. It’s rewarding to see a team effort bringing in such fantastic returns in terms of jobs and economic growth.”

Further examples of other recent investments in the SCR include:

• Peak Resort, the £400million tourism and leisure destination which is underway with £2.9million infrastructure funding from the SCR. The project will create 1,300 jobs.
• A new 44,595 sq metre facility at the Markham Vale Enterprise Zone for Great Bear will create 400 new jobs serving the UK domestic market. A second distribution operation at Markham Vale is the largest development at Markham Vale to date.

A consultation is to seek the public’s views on both short and long term plans to redevelop Chesterfield’s Northern Gateway area to breathe extra life in to the town centre.

Chesterfield Borough Council appointed Chesterfield-based Whittam Cox Architects to produce a vision document which sets out how the area could develop in the short term through the previously announced first phase of the Northern Gateway project and, once that is complete, how it might develop in the future.

The first phase of the Northern Gateway scheme will see:

• the former Co-op building redeveloped in a £10.5 million scheme by Central England Co-operative and Jomast Developments to house six ground floor restaurants, a Premier Inn hotel on the first and second floors and a health and fitness centre in the basement.
• Chesterfield Borough Council demolish the existing Saltergate multi-storey car park and replace it with a new, higher quality car park in a £6.54 million scheme
• An enterprise centre, incorporating a public space area, built on part of the Holywell Cross (Donut) car park to house small and medium sized companies
• Environmental street improvements around Elder Way and part of Knifesmithgate, to enhance this part of the town centre and make it more pedestrian friendly, will be funded using a £5.8 million grant from the Sheffield City Region.

This work will be completed over the next five years. Once that is delivered attention will turn to a second longer-term phase, which could see housing in the Newbold Road area.

The public will be able to see the plans, including visuals of how the area may look, and give their views at drop-in consultation sessions taking place in the entrance lobby to the Assembly Rooms in Chesterfield Market Hall between:

• 11am and 4pm on Friday 28 July and
• 10am and 2pm on Saturday 29 July.

Consultation information will then be displayed in the Tourist Information Centre in Rykneld Square from Monday 31 July to Friday 11 August. Residents can also complete the consultation online at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/northern-gateway.

Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said:-

“This public consultation will focus on the plans for the Enterprise Centre which the council is building and the environmental street improvements in Elder Way and Knifesmithgate.

“The key aim of the development at Northern Gateway is to attract more footfall for town centre shops and the market from the staff working in the Enterprise Centre and shoppers and visitors coming to a more attractive environment.

“We will also be seeking views on some of the longer term vision ideas about how the Northern Gateway can be better linked up to the historic core of the town centre, to the railway station and new developments like Waterside. This part of the vision is not something that will be happening soon but it is important that we plan for the future of the Newbold Road area too.”

The consultation will not include the Saltergate multi-storey car park or the Co-op redevelopment parts of the project.

Consultation has already taken place with Derbyshire County Council’s highways team, bus companies, taxi drivers, businesses and representatives of equalities groups to help produce the draft Northern Gateway vision document.

Andrew Dabbs, from Whittam Cox Architects, said:-

“Consultation with local people is an essential part of the design development process and we will look forward to presenting our plans and taking on board the feedback that will help us develop our scheme to the next level.

“We are pretty confident that with the work undertaken by our team in conjunction with the Chesterfield Borough Council will be welcomed and supported. We also hope through our consultation that people will understand the holistic benefit that this development could bring as a catalyst for wider regeneration around the Northern Gateway and the wider town centre.”

Following the public consultation a final version of the vision document will be produced which will then be used to attract inward investors to the Northern Gateway scheme.

Up to 200 new jobs are set to be created at Markham Vale as supply chain specialist Gist Limited announces it’s opening new premises at Chesterfield’s flagship regeneration site.

Commercial property agent Knight Frank has been appointed to find new tenants for the biggest vacant office space in Chesterfield.

Knight Frank, through its Sheffield office, has been hired by FI Real Estate Management to market the 44,000 sq ft former Royal Mail building on Boythorpe Road in Chesterfield.

The modern, four storey office building, now known as The HQ, sits in a central position in the market town and has recently become available following a reorganisation within Royal Mail which freed up this building.

Knight Frank is seeking tenants for the whole building or for individual floors of approximately 11,000 sq ft, at a rental asking price of £12.50 per sq ft per year.

Peter Whiteley, head of office at Knight Frank in Sheffield, said:-

“The HQ is the largest vacant office space available in Chesterfield. It became available following a reorganisation within Royal Mail which freed up the front building of this development. Royal Mail still operate from the original Rowland Hill House in the building at the rear of The HQ.

“The self contained building is finished to Grade A specification on a secure site and delivers a flexible working environment to meet the demands of modern business combined with generous on site car parking.

“While it is envisaged that the whole accommodation could be taken by a call centre or similar operation, it could also be taken on a floor by floor basis for other employment purposes such as smaller technology or creative industry companies.”

Features at The HQ include 147 car parking spaces, double glazing and air conditioning, raised access floors and full DDA compliancy.

Historic market town Chesterfield nestles on the edge of the Peak District National Park and has a population of approximately 103,800. It has excellent links to the motorway network, via Junctions 29 and 30 of the M1 and is well served with train connectivity, including fast links to the capital and a proposed HS2 station in the future. It also benefits from being well located within easy access of Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham.

The HQ is located within walking distance of Chesterfield town centre and Chatsworth Road. Giving access to award winning restaurants and bars, independent and high street shopping, Chesterfield market and the famous crooked spire. The site is adjacent to the picturesque Queen’s Park and the new Queen’s Park Sports centre with its state of the art gym and pool.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager at Destination Chesterfield, said:-

“Chesterfield is the perfect location for your business. North Derbyshire is cost-effective, well-connected and full of potential. By locating to Chesterfield, you will join businesses from world-leading manufacturers to multinational communication companies. Enterprises of every kind already benefit from our positive approach and superb travel links.”

A scheme to further develop the land surrounding Sheffield United’s stadium – proposed by Chesterfield based architects Whittam Cox – has been given the council go-ahead.

A planning committee approved proposals to develop the Cherry Street / Shoreham Street corner into Boundary Corner, a four-storey largely residential building including 45 flats, as well as a new ground floor 6,600 sq.ft. Blades Superstore.

The scheme – drawn-up by Chesterfield Champions and Sheffield United’s retained architects Whittam Cox – features in long-term business plans from the owners focusing on ever-improving stadium facilities contributing to the future business performance of the Club.

The development is part of a cohesive Masterplan for the Sheffield United estate, produced to ensure the various opportunities for development work successfully together.

Council approval of the planning application –  submitted in February – was welcomed by Sheffield United director Simon McCabe.

He said:-

“The corner site we are developing could fulfil a dream for some of our supporters – a chance to live at the home of football! It will also enable the Club to expand the Superstore into a 21st century retail outlet.”

Scott McCabe, fellow director said:-

“Further development of the stadium area is a positive move to enhance income streams, ultimately supporting our plans for the key football side of the business.”

The proposals come in the wake of extensive modernisation undertaken in recent years including the installation of a state of the art Desso pitch giving the Club greater use of the ground for events and other activities during close seasons.

Ashley Turner, Chief Executive at Whittam Cox Architects’ added:-

“Following on from completed projects such as the Westfield Corner Stand and Copthorne Hotel, we are delighted that, working with Sheffield United, we now have council permission to further enhance what is already a superb venue.”

Sheffield City Council’s head of planning said in a report:-

“This is a well-designed scheme and does not have any significant impact upon the amenities of neighbouring residents on Cherry Street and Shoreham Street.”

The report also acknowledged the scheme’s sustainable location and the development of a brownfield site.

A Chesterfield beauty salon has risen from a home-grown ‘garden shed’ boutique to opening their very own salon in Brampton.

The Pamper Shack, founded by Kayleigh Valeisa in 2013, began life in the back garden shed at Kayleigh’s father’s house with just a single room divided into two sections, one as a children’s waiting area and other with just enough space for a single bed.

As time went by and the shack’s reputation grew, expansions were made via an extension into the area previously reserved as a tool area.

From humble beginnings it soon became clear that demand was quickly outpacing the number of people the ‘shack’ could handle, this month the ‘Shackettes’ moved into their own premises in Brampton, Chesterfield.

Four years after the initial launch, there are now seven full-time employees working their hardest to make the town more beautiful with each new client.

Kayleigh said:-

“Space was tight in the old shed but we pushed and put our hearts into the salon, it’s brilliant to finally be in the position to stand back and look at our very own store front!”

With a new location, there are hopes for even greater business. Kayleigh says the current plan is to keep growing, bringing in more clients and maintaining a tight-knit team of beauty experts that ‘feel more like a family than staff’.

The results of the efforts of those at Pamper Shack are already on show after being named as a finalist in the Hair and Beauty Business of the Year category at this year’s Chesterfield Retail Awards.