Grant funding success will provide focus for summit

Chesterfield’s success in securing more than £45 million in grant funding from the Government this year will take centre stage at its forthcoming investment summit.

The Chesterfield Investment Summit, which is free to attend, will return as an in-person event at the Casa Hotel on Wednesday 24 November, from 8.30am to 12noon.

Around 150 people are expected to attend the event, which is organised by Destination Chesterfield and Derbyshire Economic Partnership and is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Among the speaker line-up will be Christian Neilsen, urban design associate at BDP, which developed the Staveley Town Centre Masterplan, in conjunction with Chesterfield Borough Council.

This is one of the 11 projects receiving funding through the £25.2 million Staveley Town Deal.

The grant for Staveley was one of the largest given to 45 towns in England in March earlier this year as part of the government’s £1 billion Town’s Fund.

In the recent budget, Chesterfield was once again put under the spotlight by Chancellor Rishi Sunak after securing a £19.98 million grant from the national Levelling Up Fund.

Dr Huw Bowen, chief executive at Chesterfield Borough Council, who is also speaking at the summit, will reveal how the government funding will be used.

The event will also hear from Rupert Carr, director of Birchall Properties, the company developing Chesterfield’s £400 million leisure, education, wellness and entertainment destination called PEAK.

He will update delegates on the progress and plans for the ambitious multi-phase leisure development, which capitalises on the town’s proximity to Peak District National Park.

Additional speakers also include Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, Chris Henning, executive director for place at Derbyshire County Council and Peter Swallow, chair of Destination Chesterfield and managing director of Bolsterstone Group, the company developing the town’s £340 million regeneration scheme Chesterfield Waterside.

Mr Swallow said: “We’re delighted to bring back the Investment Summit in person, after hosting it virtually last year.

“Chesterfield has continued to move forward and made significant progression on developments within the town despite the pandemic, so there is lots to talk about at the summit. It’s going to be another great event.”

To find out more about the event and book a free place visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/chesterfield-investment-summit/.