Major link road plans could create more than 500 new jobs in Chesterfield

It is intended to open up three acres of space for new businesses.

The original plan was to create 440 jobs and 438 homes but plans for homes have now been removed.

The scheme is now expected to create 533 new jobs although link road plans could be delayed by the Covid-19 virus.

Next week, a D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership Meeting is set to agree £3.8 million to push the forward, taking the total funding to more than £7.4 million.

The plan, approved in December, will see a new link road built from the junction of Hollis Lane and Spa Lane north through to Chesterfield station.

Derbyshire County Council’s brief on the plan said the proposals would also ‘open up the area around Chesterfield train station for housing and business use and to improve parking’.

A council report on the funding, to be discussed this month, said: “Following professional advice it was agreed that the land made available from these works would not be suitable for housing development and market conditions were preferable to employment.”

It also said: “The project aims to complement the delivery of the HS2 strategic sites project and will support the overall development of the Chesterfield HS2 station area through providing new opportunities for employment.”

The link road also aims to reduce the amount of traffic travelling through the town centre

Works to clear the site ready for construction are due to start in September.

Construction of the link road is to start in August 2021 with an aim to complete the project by December 2021.

However, the report says: “Impacts of Covid-19 will potentially hold up the contract start and the outcome of the land agreement being delayed is the other possible factor for delay.”

Coun Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield Council leader, previously said: “HS2 will redraw the economic map for Chesterfield; with better connectivity for the one million people already living within 30 minutes of the station.

“It is a once in a generation opportunity to transform the fortunes of the borough with the prospect of 10,200 new jobs, 4,700 new homes and an annual uplift of £270 million in expenditure on local goods and services.”