Multi-million pound project to breathe new life into Chesterfield town centre about to start

The £3.25million scheme will start on Monday with improvements being made to the Elder Way area.

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This work – which is expected to be finished by the summer – promises to ‘create a more inviting pedestrian route from the Northern Gateway development to the retail centre of the town’, according to Chesterfield Borough Council.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “This ambitious project will breathe new life into the town centre and improve the quality of the area by making it a more attractive place to visit.

“These changes will also lead to increased space for businesses to have outdoor seating which should further guarantee this area’s role in the town’s visitor economy.

“This work will cause some inevitable disruption in the short term, but we’re working with the contractors to limit this as far as possible.

“We have attempted to contact those businesses affected and will continue to provide updates as the works progress on the council’s website.

“Improving the town centre in this way should help set a vision for the future of Chesterfield and further demonstrates how important our high street is to the future economic success of the borough.”

The project is a key part of the council’s Northern Gateway scheme which over the past 18 months has seen the opening of the new town centre Premier Inn and the new Saltergate multi-storey car park.

Building work on an enterprise centre boasting new offices is also taking place on part of the Donut roundabout.

Danaher and Walsh Civil Engineering has been appointed by the council to carry out the Elder Way work.

A spokesperson from Danaher and Walsh said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract and look forward to working with Chesterfield Borough Council to deliver this exciting programme of improvements to Chesterfield’s town centre.

“Our site team is committed to working with stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of the works whilst mitigating any potential disruption.

“We are confident that the delivered scheme will be a source of pride for the people and businesses of Chesterfield.”

What work is planned to improve the Elder Way area?

- the reconstruction of existing footways and paved areas with a mix of high-quality paving

- pavement widening

- taxi rank improvements on Knifesmithgate

- a range of formal and informal pedestrian crossing improvements

- the de-cluttering of the street scene by removing obstacles to pedestrian movement

- the introduction of trees into the street

- improved design of loading bays

- new bus shelters and re-positioned bus stops on Elder Way

- new street furniture

- carriageway resurfacing

A council spokesperson said: “Funding for the project has been provided by the Sheffield City Region Investment Fund and D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

“During the week commencing January 4, a works yard will be established in the lower Devonshire Road car park which will reduce disruption in the town centre.

“Due to the nature of these works and the location there is the possibility of some inconvenience for businesses and visitors.

“Regular updates will be provided directly to affected businesses and further updates on progress and impacts on the area will be published on the council’s website.”

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