Plans to revitalise Staveley town centre are receiving a further funding boost after the Staveley Town Deal Board agreed additional investment - to improve the area’s appeal for residents, visitors and businesses.
Around £60,000 that has been returned to the Town Deal programme because projects have been delivered under budget, will be reinvested to support enhancements to High Street and Church Street and improve connections to the Chesterfield Canal.
The decision - made by the Board at its meeting on Friday 9 October - will help maximise the impact of the town's £25 million regeneration programme, and builds on the significant town centre regeneration work already delivered.
Chesterfield Borough Council’s Staveley 21 project transformed the market place with new paving, lighting, planting, a play space, and a pavilion building which is home to Staveley Library with business space upstairs. It also provided grants for businesses to improve their shop fronts.
The project included rejuvenation works along High Street, but additional funding will increase the impact of these works and ensure the whole town centre is a more attractive place to shop, visit and work.
Ivan Fomin, Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “Our most recent Town Deal survey, with the community, showed there was strong support for further investment in the town centre and by reallocating this funding which has come back into the programme we can deliver additional improvements, and achieve more of what the community wants to see. These works will build on our momentum to make sure the town is a place to start, stay and grow.”
A detailed plan of how the funding will be used will be developed to reflect community expectations. It is likely to include elements like repairing street furniture, improving planting, fixing paving, and enhancing lighting along High Street and Church Street. The additional funding will also help strengthen the connection between the town centre and the canal.
Chesterfield Borough Council will be working closely with Derbyshire County Council and Staveley Town Council to deliver these works, as responsibility for maintaining the town centre rests across all three councils.
Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “Our town centre works have transformed the market place, creating an attractive space that encourages visitors on a day-to-day basis but also provides space for the town centre to host events and activities for the community to enjoy. We’ve already seen new businesses open since the works have been completed.
“The original project plan included proposals to rejuvenate High Street but this additional funding will allow us to do even more to improve the town centre and strengthen the connection to the canal. We want to see Staveley town centre thriving - providing space for businesses to grow and for the community to enjoy.
"We’ve seen lots of positive comments about our town centre project and these works are a key part of our long-term ambition to ensure that Staveley is a place that the community can be proud of.”
A full programme of works for High Street and Church Street will be developed and expanded to ensure the additional funding provides a boost for the town centre.
Chesterfield Borough Council will share more details about these improvements on its social media pages.
