Champions column: So much to enjoy about living and working here in our town

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​Hi, I’m Jillian Mitchell, a chartered architect and co-founder of Lomas and Mitchell Architects. We’re based here at Markham Vale in a building we designed for one of our corporate clients, but we’re better known for our work in the private residential sector.

We work with homeowners, helping them to achieve their dream homes, whether that’s remodelling or refurbishing their existing home or indeed building a new home from scratch.

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We’re particularly known for what are called Paragraph 84 houses, which are one-off houses of exceptional design quality in the countryside.

Whatever the project, we are known for our focus on low-energy design.

Our latest Champions columnist is Jillian Mitchell, chartered architect and co-founder of Lomas and Mitchell Architects.Our latest Champions columnist is Jillian Mitchell, chartered architect and co-founder of Lomas and Mitchell Architects.
Our latest Champions columnist is Jillian Mitchell, chartered architect and co-founder of Lomas and Mitchell Architects.

How would you describe Chesterfield in three words?

Beautiful, friendly, varied…

There’s greenery all around us, even in the town centre. We have great views over the hills, and I

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find it a very special place to be. It’s very friendly - there’s always a welcome no matter where you are in the town.

"It’s very friendly - there’s always a welcome no matter where you are in the town”, ​says our latest Champions columnist Jillian Mitchell, chartered architect and co-founder of Lomas and Mitchell Architects."It’s very friendly - there’s always a welcome no matter where you are in the town”, ​says our latest Champions columnist Jillian Mitchell, chartered architect and co-founder of Lomas and Mitchell Architects.
"It’s very friendly - there’s always a welcome no matter where you are in the town”, ​says our latest Champions columnist Jillian Mitchell, chartered architect and co-founder of Lomas and Mitchell Architects.

And I would say it’s a very varied place because you could be in the town centre one minute, and a few minutes later you could be heading into the countryside and enjoying all the natural landscape around.

How is your business becoming more sustainable?

In terms of sustainability, our practice focuses on all things low energy. So, whether it’s a commercial

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building like the one we’re based in at Markham Vale or working with our private residential clients, we spend a lot of time making sure that we make the most of their project budget, looking at how to make their buildings as energy efficient as possible.

I also sit on the steering group of the Property and Construction Group for Destination Chesterfield. One of the key strands that I’m involved with comes under the banner of ‘quality and sustainability’, and it’s very important that we bring it into all our discussions.

What are your favourite places to visit in Chesterfield?

My favourite places to visit in and around Chesterfield are all within walking distance of the town centre. There are a couple of fabulous walks that you can do, where you take in some of the industrial past, taking you along the canal path and the waterways that you don’t see from the roads.

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One of the things I like to do is to stop and look up in the town centre because some of the buildings are amazing, particularly above the shop fronts.

Why do you love working in Chesterfield?

One of the things that I enjoy most about working in Chesterfield is being part of the Property and Construction Group. I love being able to contribute and help shape policy.

I enjoy managing meetings with colleagues across the sector, making sure that all voices around the table are heard. I also get a lot out of those meetings personally. The group is growing year-on-year and is becoming a valuable network and a great resource to tap into.

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What is your vision for Chesterfield by 2030, and how can the town achieve this?

One of the things I am very interested in within the Chesterfield area is housing, and in particular social and affordable housing. I’m pleased that Chesterfield Borough Council have embraced this notion and is now providing low-energy housing for the people who most need it.

I’d like to think that in five years, there will be more examples in the wider region where Chesterfield has taken the lead in showing the rest of the country how this can be achieved.