Expanded budget strategies for Chesterfield city center unveiled
In a bid to boost the local economy and create opportunities for residents, particularly the younger generation, Cllr Tricia Gilby, the local Labour leader, has spearheaded a series of initiatives aimed at revitalising Chesterfield town centre.
Over the past year, these efforts have resulted in the creation of over 800 local jobs, with a significant number being apprenticeships. This growth is expected to continue with the projected addition of around 100 new jobs as a result of the town centre's improvement plan.
The heart of Chesterfield's transformation will be the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield programme, which aims to regenerate and reimagine key spaces in the town centre. These include Market Place, New Square, Burlington Street and Packers Row, Corporation Street, and the George Stephenson Memorial Hall.
The George Stephenson Memorial Hall is set for a major refurbishment and remodelling, transforming it into a vibrant cultural hub. The combined spaces will host a theatre, cinema, bar, café, and exhibition space, promoting greater cultural inclusion and participation.
The town centre will also see the introduction of a new lighting strategy, outdoor dwelling and entertainment spaces, and greater data connectivity for digital wayfinding and smart street lighting. Predictive maintenance and environmental monitoring capabilities will also be implemented, further enhancing the town's modern infrastructure.
Chesterfield Borough Council has been fortunate to have Chesterfield College and a University of Derby campus in the town centre, supporting over 10,000 students and apprentices. The council is also investing in supporting the future of young people and local residents, aiming to create better jobs and more jobs for locals.
The town centre's revitalisation has been made possible through approximately £20m in levelling up funding, with an additional £6m of investment from Chesterfield Borough Council. Dr Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, expressed gratitude for the funding.
Dr Bowen is also committed to celebrating the town's identity and providing seating for people and events in the public realm. Shop occupancy levels in the town centre are expected to exceed 90% as a result of the improvement plan.
In the context of the UK government's levelling up agenda, nature recovery is being integrated through statutory mechanisms such as Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS). These strategies, mandated by the Environment Act 2021, require designated authorities to set priorities for nature’s recovery, map valuable natural areas, and propose habitat creation or improvement projects. Public bodies must legally "have regard" to these strategies, embedding nature recovery into planning and decision-making processes supporting the government's broader levelling up goals.
While the UK may not explicitly frame this as a singular "right to nature" law, the introduction of LNRS and the biodiversity duty under the Environment Act 2021 effectively establish a legal framework obliging governments and public authorities to promote nature's recovery and conservation. This aligns with ecological restoration principles found in rights-of-nature frameworks that emphasize environmental stewardship as a legal right and responsibility, supporting social and economic regeneration under the levelling up agenda.
With the construction of the Enterprise Centre and One Waterside Place scheduled for 2022, Chesterfield is poised for a bright and prosperous future, offering a blend of cultural, economic, and environmental growth.
Financial investments, both from the UK government's levelling up funding and Chesterfield Borough Council, totaling approximately £26 million, are being deployed to stimulate business growth and job creation in Chesterfield, with the expectation of adding around 100 new jobs due to the town centre's regeneration plan. To further rein foreign investment and promote inclusivity, the revitalized town centre will feature a cultural hub in the remodeled George Stephenson Memorial Hall, offering a theatre, cinema, bar, café, and exhibition space.
