A new regeneration project aims to enhance the appeal of one of Chesterfield’s most historic areas and bring vacant town centre buildings back into use.
Chesterfield Borough Council is set to accept funding from Chesterfield’s Pride in Place programme, which is overseen by the Chesterfield Town Board, to deliver a new project that aims to enhance the Shambles to attract more investment and encourage visitors to support independent businesses.
The project will be coordinated by the council, with part of the funding being used to enhance the space with new street furniture, signage, planting and public art.
Most of the funding will be used to create a new grant scheme for businesses and landlords which will help to fill empty shops and provide a consistent design approach across the area.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “The Shambles is a unique part of our town centre and is home to incredible independent businesses. We want to help make these spaces more attractive and encourage more visitors to explore the historic lanes.
“This project will ensure that the town centre remains an attractive place to visit and provides support to help tackle one of the issues that we know matters to our community.”
Around £700,000 has been provided for the project by the Chesterfield Pride in Place programme, overseen by the Chesterfield Town Board which is responsible for deciding how to spend long-term funding through the government’s Pride in Place programme.
Dominic Staniforth, local business leader and Chair of Chesterfield Town Board, said: “This project reflects some of the key priorities that we identified through our engagement with local people including making better use of vacant premises, creating a welcoming town centre environment and enhancing the historic feel of the town centre.
“We funded this project because we want to work with businesses and provide the support, they need to enhance their premises which will give them opportunities to attract more customers and grow their business.”
An urban design plan has been developed which will guide the improvements to ensure they are sensitive to the historic nature of the area.
Detailed plans for the first phase of the project, which includes new street furniture, planting, lighting and public art, are currently being developed and will be shared with businesses and landlords ahead of work beginning on site in 2027.
The Shambles Building Improvement Grant is an opportunity for businesses based within the Shambles to improve their premises. The scheme aims to enhance the area's appearance while safeguarding its historic character, bring vacant properties back into use and improve accessibility.
A small business or charity can claim a generous percentage of the costs of improvements made through the scheme. The council will work with businesses and landlords to develop the programme.
Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet approved the acceptance of the funding on Tuesday 22 September. The project will now go before Full Council in October, where members will be asked to formally approve its addition to the council’s Capital Programme.
Chesterfield is benefitting from almost £20 million worth of government Pride in Place funding to invest in local projects, running from 2026 to 2036.
An independent board, called the Chesterfield Town Board, is overseeing this investment, and is making sure that the views of local people are used to shape how the money is spent.
The board received government approval for its regeneration plan in March 2026.
The Chesterfield Pride in Place plan is rooted in extensive engagement with local people and has been developed to deliver against the priorities they identified for the future of the area. Improving the vibrancy, safety and attractiveness of the town centre emerged as a key priority, with a range of projects and initiatives proposed to help achieve that vision.
Find out more about the Chesterfield Town Board and read the regeneration plan.
