Prominent Chesterfield building will be knocked down if plans are passed

McCarthy and Stone wants to build the accommodation at the location of North East Derbyshire District Council's former headquarters on Saltergate.

The company has now submitted a planning application to Chesterfield Borough Council which proposes the demolition of the existing building and the erection of the homes as well as car parking spaces.

Ian Wilkins, regional managing director for McCarthy and Stone, said: "With the number of older people in Chesterfield due to increase by 20 per cent in the next two decades, there is no doubt that this type of specialist retirement accommodation will be essential in the town centre."

Toby Perkins hailed the plans.

The Chesterfield MP said: "I have been very concerned about what would happen to the former council offices and worried that the building would lie empty for years.

"These plans would involve a revamp of the entire site with a modern retirement complex created, providing much-needed homes for older people in a central location.

"This complex, if it gets approval, would hopefully encourage retired homeowners to move here and free up much-needed family homes in the area.

"These proposals once again show that developers have a real confidence in building in Chesterfield.

"The Labour-run borough council is doing all it can to attract developers to the area and create the new homes we desperately need."

The district council was based on Saltergate for more than 30 years.

It moved to new state-of-the-art headquarters on Mill Lane, Wingerworth, in 2015.