'Number of businesses' interested in occupying units at Chesterfield's Elder Way development

The multi-million pound Elder Way development has already seen the first and second floors of the town’s old Co-op department store transformed into a Premier Inn hotel.

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Jomast Developments, the company behind the scheme, is now in talks with potential tenants in a bid to fill basement and ground floor units in the property.

Mark Hill, commercial property director at Jomast Developments, said: “There has been considerable interest from businesses in Elder Way since we acquired and converted the building.

“Premier Inn opened on the upper floors in April last year and is reporting excellent occupancy rates.

“Our vision for Elder Way is to transform it into a new food and drink quarter for the town and it is a vision which people are buying into.

“Chesterfield has a thriving food and drink scene and this has been reflected in the strong interest shown in the basement and ground floor units at Elder Way.

“In response to market demand we have increased the number of ground floor units from seven to eight and we are in advanced discussions with a number of tenants for the units.

“The innovation centre at Holywell Cross car park together with the new Premier Inn Hotel and Saltergate car park are all positive factors for prospective tenants and also helping drive interest both locally and from further afield in the units,” added Mr Hill.

The opening of the 92-bed Premier Inn created nearly 40 new jobs.

When it opened its doors, Mr Hill said: “I am delighted that we have been able to preserve such an iconic building in Chesterfield.

“The position and location of the site at times has been challenging but our ongoing collaboration with Chesterfield Borough Council has enabled us to bring this much-loved building back into use.”

Jomast Developments said it expects more jobs to be created as the scheme progresses.

For more information about the Elder Way development, visit the website at www.elderway.co.uk.

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