£570m lined up to support Derbyshire regeneration schemes

Around £570 million is being set aside for 50 Derbyshire regeneration schemes designed to improve the county’s economic prospects.

Derbyshire County Council said it is supporting the funding over the next few years, which will help deliver major projects, including new homes, employment land, infrastructure.

The money will come from a combination of the county council, government pots and local private and public sector partners.

It will support projects including the South Derby Growth Zone, which the county council will deliver in collaboration with Derby City Council.

At a recent meeting of the county council’s cabinet, members were updated on the progress of the county’s key regeneration schemes.

Councillor Carolyn Renwick, the county council’s cabinet member for infrastructure, said: “This regeneration programme demonstrates good growth in Derbyshire with major regeneration projects across the county to support job creation and keep Derbyshire moving.

“We’re proud to be a driving force for regeneration and levelling up in Derbyshire and welcome much-needed investment from Government to improve our county’s economic prospects.”

Some of the regeneration schemes being supported are already underway.

They include £6 million for the Ashbourne airfield expansion, opening up land for employment and housing and adding a new roundabout on the A52.

And almost £11 million has been committed to a new road into Chesterfield Station, with a planning application now in, while £2.4 million will be put into a new roundabout and access to a housing development in Buxton, along with a new a section of the White Peak Loop cycle trail.

Among the projects being prepared is the £55 million South Derby Growth Zone, which involves building a new junction off the A50 and a link road, supporting commercial development and housing at Infinity Garden Village.

An outline business case for funding is due to be submitted to the Government later this year, requesting £49 million to help fund the project, with a further £6 million expected to be contributed by local partners.

Some £35 million could also be put into the restoration and transformation of Elvaston Castle, a project which in consultancy Planning & Design Practice is involved.

One of the biggest schemes is the £125 million Chesterfield-Staveley Regeneration Route.

The project involves reclamation works and construction of a 3.7-mile road connecting Chesterfield with Staveley, opening up land for jobs and housing.

The Government would be asked for £106 million to help fund the project with a further £19 million expected to be contributed by local public and private sector partners.

Elsewhere, more than £20 million would be needed for the Ashbourne Relief Road project, around £50 million to improve access to Shirebrook and a similar figure to find a solution for Swarkestone Causeway, across the River Trent.

The Staveley Town Deal Investment Plan could get £25 million, as could the Long Eaton Town Deal Investment Plan, while Chesterfield Borough Council is leading a £20 million project to improve the town centre.

The county council said it was also supporting a bid for £25 million to build on work already done to establish the East Midlands Freeport, which is the UK’s only inland freeport.