More plans to repurpose unoccupied buildings in Chesterfield town centre

CPRE Derbyshire is heartened to learn that planning applications have been put forward to convert two more empty landmark buildings in the centre of Chesterfield into apartments.

Urban regeneration is essential in order to secure a vibrant future for our towns and cities and to protect the countryside from unnecessary development. Town centres provide a special opportunity to re-use existing buildings for homes and to make use of existing infrastructure.

We are therefore very pleased to see the application to convert the long disused and decaying Council House at Saltergate into 59 apartments. We feel that repurposing of this unused property will not only provide additional dwellings but also contribute to the regeneration of Chesterfield town centre, as the accommodation is in easy walking distance of town centre shopping and other key facilities.

Similarly, we are delighted that a prior approval application to convert a neglected landmark building on Holywell Street into a mixture of apartments and smaller retail units has been submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council. It is encouraging to see plans for conversion of surplus commercial buildings to new homes to create mixed developments and to encourage ‘living above the shop’. This kind of development contributes to densifying the centre where there is likely to be more transport and work opportunities.

CPRE Derbyshire has submitted comments in support of both of these plans.