Updated plans for Derbyshire town centre revitalisation scheme

Chesterfield Borough Council has shared updated plans for revitalising Staveley town centre, with extra government funding approved for the project.

The Staveley 21 home development, worth £6m, has been in the works for a year, stemming from the Staveley Town Centre Vision Masterplan released in November 2021.

These plans, funded by the Staveley Town Deal, were presented at a meeting of Staveley Town Council earlier this week.

The new pavilion will be between the Staveley Miners Welfare building and Staveley High Street.

It will have a modern design that also pays tribute to Staveley’s history, becoming a centrepiece in the town centre. The building could serve multiple purposes, including potential housing for a Library if Derbyshire County Council decides to move it there, as well as accommodating retail, leisure, and new business ventures.

The marketplace will be expanded into a larger public open space. It will continue to support Staveley Town Council’s regular markets but will also be adaptable for hosting various events. Outdoor seating will be added to facilitate outdoor theatre performances and open-air movie screenings, and there will be play equipment.

Improvements like new paving, lighting, street furniture, and greenery will also be added.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy said: “Town centres across the country are changing and our proposals reflect this need to adapt. We have already secured a main contractor to deliver the project and our aim is to achieve planning permission in Spring 2024. In line with the Government’s requirements, we plan to be on-site in Autumn 2024 and for all of the construction work to have been completed by the end of 2025.

“Ahead of this, we are committed to carrying out extensive engagement on the proposals to ensure that we capture the views of all stakeholders and make appropriate adjustments ahead of submitting the necessary planning application. We’re also still seeking applications for the shop front grant scheme which we launched in February. A total sum of £600k is available to support shop owners and landlords to make improvements to their premises.”