A decade on work starts on £320m Chesterfield Waterside

Work has begun on a £320m mixed-use scheme in Chesterfield that was first unveiled ten years ago.

Plans for the 16 hectare Chesterfield Waterside scheme - situated around a new canal basin and incorporating 1,200 homes and 30,000 sq m of offices and retail - were first announced back in 2006, and won planning permission in 2010.

Local earthworks and landscaping contractor NT Killingley began enabling works on phase one this week. The first phase, £75m Basin Square, designed by Bond Bryan Architects, is situated opposite the town’s railway station and incorporates a former Trebor Bassett sweet factory. It comprises 310 private rental apartments with 1,500 sq m of retail, 442-space multi-storey car park, 3,025 sq m office building and an 84-bed hotel.

It is being developed by Chesterfield-based developer Bolsterstone, the Arnold Laver Group and Chesterfield Borough Council. 

To date only piecemeal work has been carried out on the site, including 19 homes on the site of a former warehouse, which completed last year and are now fully occupied.

Peter Swallow, managing director of Bolsterstone, said: “This is a significant step forward for Chesterfield Waterside which will allow us to move into the construction phase next year.

“Once preparation works are complete and the infrastructure is in place, it will facilitate delivery of development on both Basin Square and The Park, enabling us to progress with the second phase of detailed planning applications for the buildings themselves shortly afterwards.”