New office block at Chesterfield Waterside a ‘critical requirement’ for town's growth, business boss says

Those are the words of Peter Swallow, managing director of Bolsterstone Group PLC, the company behind the £340million Chesterfield Waterside development off Brimington Road.

MORE: Take a look around Chesterfield Waterside office as building work continues

Mr Swallow spoke as the Derbyshire Times took a tour around One Waterside Place, the seven-storey office block which is currently under construction in the Basin Square neighbourhood of the scheme.

Many people are still working from home as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic – but Mr Swallow insists One Waterside Place is very much needed in the town.

“It represents the first block of Grade A office space delivered in Chesterfield for a number of years,” he said.

“The availability of new larger floor plate office space is a critical requirement for Chesterfield’s commercial offer.

“One Waterside Place will seek to attract inward investment into the town from commercial occupiers, as well as aiming to provide relocation space for established local occupiers, and a suitable home for highly-skilled employees.

“Chesterfield’s central location and proximity to infrastructure is just one of the many benefits of this new building.

“This is city-quality office space and will allow employers to provide flexible and collaborative workspace in the post-Covid world which is seen by many as the future of the office market.”

According to Mr Swallow, BHP Chartered Accountants has already secured a ‘significant element of the available space’ at One Waterside Place.

“Firm interest is also being shown by potential occupiers in the remaining space,” he added.

Construction of the steel frame for the office block was completed by Britcon (UK) Ltd in July.

The steel framework will now be clad in a brickwork skin.

One Waterside Place is expected to open to businesses in summer 2022 which is later than planned – many developments both locally and nationally have been hit by delays as a result of supply chain issues and workers being told to isolate.

Looking ahead, Mr Swallow said: “The office building is part of a wider commercial and residential offering in phase one of Basin Square.

“The next stages will see delivery of a hotel, multi-storey car park and build-to-rent apartments, which will be centred around the new canal basin and high-quality pedestrianised public realm.

“We will also deliver much anticipated leisure and retail space as part of these uses.”

Avant Homes is also continuing to build 173 two, three and four-bedroom houses at the Chesterfield Waterside site.

County companies ‘already benefiting’ from development

Derbyshire companies are already benefiting from One Waterside Place, according to Mr Swallow.

Renishaw-based Green Piling and family-owned firm NRA Roofing and Flooring Services Ltd, based in Ilkeston, have both been awarded contracts during the construction phase of the office block.

They are just two of several Derbyshire businesses working on Chesterfield Waterside.

Mr Swallow said: “We have some of the best businesses based right here on our doorstep, in the heart of the country, and I am delighted that so many are already benefiting from the scheme.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, added: “This is a flagship scheme in our wider regeneration plans across the area, and providing local job and contract opportunities as part of that is a key part of our approach with partners.”

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