Chesterfield set for £2.4m cash boost to help HS2 hopes

The investment from D2N2, which covers Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire, will go towards the development of the Chesterfield railway station area in order to capitalise on the economic benefits that HS2 will bring to the town.

This funding will be particularly beneficial to the area’s future as the local economy recovers from the effects of COVID-19- a spokesman for the partnership said.

D2N2 will be funding the development through its Local Growth Fund allocation, a funding programme that enables D2N2 to invest in projects that benefit the regional economy.

The funding announcement recognises the transformative opportunity that HS2 will bring to Chesterfield and the northern Derbyshire area, which will contribute to the achievement of the East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy.

Chesterfield Borough Council is leading a partnership which includes Derbyshire County Council, Network Rail, HS2 Limited and East Midlands Railway to bring forward development at key sites in and around Chesterfield railway station.

Previous studies suggest that around £25 billion of the £74 billion growth in the region could come into Chesterfield and northern Derbyshire, if anticipated investment decisions are made.

The funding will enable a step change in developing and delivering Chesterfield Borough Council’s emerging HS2 Station Masterplan, which aims to bring disused sites back into use and maximise inward investment and growth for leisure, businesses and visitors.

Chairman

Elizabeth Fagan said: “HS2 will have a transformational effect, not just on Chesterfield but the whole of our region for generations to come.

“HS2 will greatly aid our efforts in upskilling our residents to meet the demands of a changing labour market.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “The development of the station master plan is a significant project for Chesterfield and northern Derbyshire’s economy.

“Our approach to HS2 has been to seek and develop benefits that will help local people find skilled and well-paid jobs and a create a station and a destination to inspire future generations.

“HS2 is a once in a generation opportunity to transform the fortunes of the borough.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor