First chance to see blueprints for £50m town centre regeneration scheme

Chesterfield’s Northern Gateway project has been in the pipeline for several years, and council leaders said they were keen to show off the first blueprints.

Last month, the Yorkshire Post reported that Leicestershire-based development contractor Wilson Bowden had been chosen by the authority to take the project forward.

Drawings show a complete remodelling of the area around what is currently known as the Donut roundabout, with a new 80-bedroom hotel and 85 homes included.

A major foodstore is also part of the plan, along with other shops and restaurants, a cinema, commercial floorspace, a new car park and an outdoor performance area.

The leader of Chesterfield Council, Coun John Burrows, said: “The Northern Gateway is going to be one of the biggest developments we’ve had in Chesterfield for many years.

“I’d like to hear what Chesterfield residents think of the plans so I’d encourage people to come along and see for themselves what’s proposed and to raise any issues with us and speak to the developers.”

Yesterday was the first day of a three-day event where the plans and artist’s impressions will be on display in the town’s Pavements Shopping Centre.

Wilson Bowden’s planning director, David Ward, said: “We’re keen to work with residents in Chesterfield to make sure we deliver a quality development that takes account of their views and meets the requirements of the council’s plans for the area.

We’ve got some great images of how the scheme may look and detailed lay-outs that we will be happy to share and discuss.”

The northern gateway scheme is part of a wider regeneration effort, which also takes in areas around the railway station and the so-called Civic Quarter.

The Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership also recently announced that it would provide a grant of £2.4m to support the town’s Waterside scheme, which aims to revamp an area alongside the A61.