New homes could be built near Chesterfield College

The East Midlands Chamber on Canal Wharf is relocating to new offices at the town’s Dunston Business Park.

An outline planning application has now been submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council to redevelop the Canal Wharf site.

Scott Knowles, chief executive at the East Midlands Chamber – which is the region’s biggest support organisation for businesses – said: “The current building needs constant air-conditioning in the summer and is almost impossible to heat in the winter, the roof leaks in too many places and last year the nursing college flooded in heavy rain.

“For many years we had the University of Derby as an assured tenant in the two-storey wing of the offices but they moved this year to the refurbished St Helena building.Without the income from the university, the cost of running the centre is going to spiral out of control. There comes a time when you have to say ‘enough is enough’ – and that time is now.”

Councillor John Burrows, borough council leader, added: “The fact the East Midlands Chamber is staying in Chesterfield rather than moving to another town or city shows that it views Chesterfield as a good place to do business and from which to support local members in the business community.”