Building work begins on major development in Chesterfield

The Glass Yard project will see the former fire station site on Sheffield Road transformed into new offices and space for artisan food producers, restaurants, cafés and retail units.

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The scheme – which is expected to open next summer when it is hoped life will be more normal – is being led by Hathersage-based company Blue Deer Ltd.

Tim Turner, the company’s managing director, said: “We’re really pleased to have started construction work at the site of The Glass Yard and we look forward to delivering a development which will help Chesterfield recover from this very difficult period.

“We decided to start the work now because the town and the country wants to get on.

“Covid-19 could be around for some time – but if we all behave then it will be controlled.

“The interest shown already in The Glass Yard is really encouraging and by the time the development is completed next August we should have a really exciting addition for the town.

“By then, all being well we’ll have some great new tenants and the country will have tamed this horrid virus.

“I’m hoping both these things come true.”

Mr Turner hailed Chesterfield as an area with ‘many advantages’.

He said: “It’s in a great geographical position, it’s got a good road network to the north and the Midlands and it has a very positive council determined to encourage investment into the town.

“The town today does lack that little bit of style in places and The Glass Yard is squarely aimed at bringing a new kind of working environment to plug that gap.”

Mr Turner previously told the Derbyshire Times he wanted to ‘bring a European culture and experience to Chesterfield’.

He added: “I’ve visited food destination buildings in lots of European towns and cities and always have the same thought ‘why don't we do something like this back home in Derbyshire’.

“Well now we’re going to.”

For more information about The Glass Yard, visit www.bluedeerltd.com/the-glass-yard.

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