A transformation is about to begin at Staveley town’s canal basin as part of the Staveley Town Deal, a £25m Government-funded regeneration programme for the area.

A new, two storey building is to be constructed adjacent to Staveley Canal, creating an attractive mixed use facility that will support 11 business units for office, retail and workshop use alongside opportunities for food and drink. In short, creating a whole new destination in Staveley for both commerce and visitors.

The project is being managed and funded by a partnership of Derbyshire County Council and the Staveley Town Deal, which is overseen by Chesterfield Borough Council. The Town Deal is providing £3.5m of the £4.5m cost of the project with the balance being met by the county council. 

The canal basin will be greatly enhanced by the new development and hopefully, will encourage more visitors to make recreational use of the canal for walking, cycling and boating. Access to the site will be improved with a new road and footpath and there will be indoor and outdoor dining space. Contractors started work on phase one of the project at the end of July. This initial phase is scheduled for completion by the end of April 2025.

This Staveley Waterside project forms part of the wider Markham Vale programme of works, a flagship, 85-hectare business park based on the site of the old Markham Colliery. The programme is a joint venture being delivered jointly with HBD focused on attracting and assisting businesses to support net zero ambitions and helping make Derbyshire a greener and lower carbon place to live, work and visit.

Councillor Tony King, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, said: “It’s great to see this highly anticipated new development get underway at Staveley.  

“Not only will it bring more life and jobs to the area, it will also draw more visitors to this attractive canal-side environment and encourage greater use of the infrastructure that’s already there.

“We have drawn on our many years of experience from work at Markham Vale and brought it to the Staveley Waterside project to help regenerate the area. It will provide both high-quality business accommodation and a visitor destination that people from near and far can enjoy.”

Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “I am thrilled to see this prominent project right by the canal, start on site. This landmark development is a key part of the Town Deal programme as it will help create new jobs and encourage people to explore the historic canal, contributing to our overall goal of ensuring that Staveley is a place where everyone can start, stay, and grow.” 

Staveley Waterside is one of three projects the county council is leading as part of the Staveley Town Deal which includes 10 projects in total.

Wheels to Work is a project the county council is leading to help people in Staveley access job and training opportunities by providing bicycles and e-scooters for those with limited transport options. And the county council is also working with partners on a project to reinstate a railway station in Barrow Hill and create better public transport connections between Staveley, Chesterfield and Sheffield for jobs and training opportunities.