Derbyshire canal undergoes £25m revitalisation project

A new waterside commercial and retail centre, including a restaurant and cafe, is set to launch near a Derbyshire town.Chesterfield Borough Council’s planning committee has approved Derbyshire County Council’s application for the construction of the Staveley Town Basin Centre.The 2.4-hectare site, once a coal working zone, is located within the Staveley Basin development area between Eckington Road and Ireland Close.The development of a two-story centre spanning 855 square meters is a part of the government-funded Staveley Town Deal project worth £25 million.The centre’s features will encompass office areas, a workshop, commercial spaces for small enterprises, and a restaurant-cafe unit.The funding was greenlit in March 2021, but plans for the building are newly approved.A total of 11 units are planned within the centre, each equipped with kitchen and restroom facilities, while a new 40-meter footpath is scheduled along Hall Lane.The site’s parking area will comprise 50 general spots, six designated for parents with children, six for individuals with disabilities, and eight for electric vehicle charging.Additionally, there will be 36 covered bicycle racks with access from Eckington Road via the lock bridge.Councillor Tony King said: “We’ve put together proposals for an exciting new development which will help to bring jobs to the area and boost the visitor economy.“Derbyshire County Council has been working alongside partners over a number of years to improve the Staveley Basin area and the Staveley Town Deal has given us a great opportunity to turn our ideas into reality, using our expertise from Markham Vale to create high-quality business accommodation as well as a visitor destination that people from near and far can enjoy.”The Derbyshire County Council highways authority, the Coal Authority, and Yorkshire Water have all given their approval for the development. The Chesterfield Canal Trust has also welcomed this project without objections.