Derbyshire shops face uncertain future amid disruptive Staveley Market Square revamp
Some businesses claim shoppers have been deterred from visiting the area - amid work that has been ongoing for a year
Some businesses say they have been struggling during disruptive construction work that has lasted over a year to revamp a Derbyshire town centre market square as part of a multi-million pound regeneration scheme.
Chesterfield Borough Council and developers Stepnell are overseeing the Staveley 21 Project’s Market Square Refurbishment Plan, near Market Street, in Staveley, with a new library building and a children’s play area as part of the Government-funded £25.2m Staveley Town Deal regeneration scheme.
But since work began over a year ago at the square some businesses claim shoppers have been deterred from visiting the area and some shops have closed or moved elsewhere, with many of the units shuttered-up and some remaining open are concerned for their future.
Leon Boot, owner of the LKB Bargains store, said: “I think it’s a lovely idea but I don’t think they have thought about the businesses while doing it.
“A plan should have been put in place on how to support businesses through the development. By the time it is done the worry is there won’t be any businesses.”
Mr Boot added it has been getting ‘harder and harder’ and he is ‘holding on by his teeth’ since construction workers put up fencing shutting off the centre of the square and leaving only the pathways across the shop fronts running along two edges of the pedestrianised area.
He said that people think the shops are shut and they do not want to sit outside the cafe with ‘dust in their dinners’ and some are reluctant to open until the work has been completed.
Mr Boot said: “It’s affected a lot of businesses because people cannot get to the square and go all the way around it. Money is leaving Staveley. It looks like it’s shut off.”
He also criticised plans to use the newly-constructed Pavilion building as a library because the town already has a library on Hall Lane and he feels the new replacement should have been used for a community-style centre where people could meet.
Mr Boot added that Chesterfield Borough Council has not offered the affected businesses dispensation, compensation, or the right kind of support or funding with costly business rates to help them with the loss of trade caused by the disruption.
He said: “I want a situation where people will go to Staveley to get what they want but this has been like having a set of teeth with seven missing.”
Mr Boot said a pet shop has closed, a hairdresser’s has moved, and some shops are struggling and some open only when they feel it is worthwhile and a nail salon may be waiting to open as soon as the construction work is complete.
During December 30 only LKB Bargains and the Market Plaice Fish Bar were open for business along one shuttered stretch of shop units and only a handful of businesses were open along an adjoining run of shop fronts including a cobblers, a barber’s, a cafe and post office.
Halil Tetik, owner of Market Plaice Fish Bar, says he does not think any business on the town square has been happy with the current situation.
He said: “It has not been good for us. It’s actually killing our business. It took 50per cent off my business last year.
“I think it is the same for most of the people. While the work is being done it is damaging my business.
“I am the owner of this business and I have not got any staff so I am having to work very hard 12 hours a day, six days a week, non-stop. The council did not help at all.”
Mr Tetik added that at one time the construction workers even fenced off the area around his fish and chip shop so customers did not have any access to his business but the council did nothing to help.
The council did earmark a share of funding from the Staveley Town Deal for Shop Front Improvement Grants for businesses but Mr Tetik argued that this money should have been used to help businesses survive the long-term disruption.
Mr Tetik added: “It’s hard to say what it’s going to be like when it’s done. I personally don’t think it will change much in Staveley. It looks modern but we need people coming here.
“That building – instead of a library – could have been an entertainment place and a lot more people would have come.”
Mr Tetik said he feels the scheme may be a waste of money that has ‘wasted our business’ and that it will take him another year or two to recover and he fears the playground in the centre of the square could also attract the wrong crowd and lead to anti-social behaviour.
Staveley Town Cllr Mick Bagshaw says he raised concerns with the council and developers Stepnell after claiming the scheme has isolated the market square and blocked off the view and access for passers-by from Market Street and that it poses a risk of anti-social behaviour after his request for a covered scheme to be secured at night was dismissed.
He also claims businesses at the square are being seriously affected by the construction work and he fears the site design will isolate shops with a loss in trade.
Cllr Bagshaw fears the town centre is already suffering after the closure of the Original Factory Shop, at Market Place, in July, and that other traders are struggling and coming under threat from anti-social behaviour after he says the Original Factory Shop building has had windows smashed and another shop along with the Pavilion building have been broken into.
He claimed the Pavilion building had to be relocated blocking off the shopping area and paving had to be realigned, and he fears this building will only create income with rent for the borough council and not for businesses or residents when it is leased to Derbyshire County Council for a library service.
Cllr Bagshaw also expressed his disappointment over the loss of public toilets near the Market Square with the only remaining, current alternative being the nearby Morrisons store facilities.
He said: “I am more concerned now for the square and its businesses which now proves my point from day one when I first suggested a covered Market Place. I am more than disgusted in the lack of consultations with businesses and certainly Staveley councillors.”
Cllr Bagshaw claims no estimates were ever submitted or considered by the council for his suggested indoor Market Square scheme which he argued would have been a quicker, less expensive and less disruptive project.
Staveley Town Cllr Paul Mann also raised concerns before any construction work began that the Pavilion’s location will block off trade for the town and both he and Cllr Bagshaw have argued the views of residents and businesses have been overlooked.
Cllr Mann also opposed the relocation of Staveley Library from Hall Lane disputing the borough council’s claims that the move will improve town centre footfall and the library’s visibility and accessibility for users while providing better parking options.
He argued it would be better for the library to stay at Hall Lane and for the Pavilion to be used for shops, cafes, restaurants and businesses instead which he feels would better support regeneration.
The Staveley 21 Project including the Pavilion, opposite the Healthy Living Centre, off Market Street, got underway after the project was backed with over £6m of funding as part of the overall Government-funded £25.2m Staveley Town Deal programme.
Work started on the site last November with the demolition of a market store and toilet block building and the town centre regeneration works had been scheduled to be completed by Christmas, 2025, according to the borough council.
Chesterfield Borough Council’s website claims that following a public consultation 77per cent of respondents were positive about proposals to improve the Market Square and that improvements to the public realm proved to be the most popular of all proposals.
The council has also stated it has followed guidelines to ensure all sectors of Staveley have been represented particularly with the make-up of a Staveley Town Deal Board during preparations for the regeneration scheme.
Cllr Kate Sarvent, Cabinet Member for Town Centres and Visitor Economy, has said the Staveley 21 project will enhance the town centre, create better public spaces, provide space for a wider uses and with the new library building it will create additional reasons for people to visit and support businesses.
She added that council officers and Stepnell representatives have provided regular updates to businesses about the works and the aim has always been to minimise disruption and ensure businesses can keep trading during the works.
Cllr Sarvent said the project will transform Staveley town centre with new lighting, new CCTV and the new Pavilion building will contain toilets for visitors and facilities for market traders.
Derbyshire County Council has stated Staveley library will continue to operate at Hall Lane while it considers future options for this property as plans get underway to move the service to the Pavilion where it is expected to open by April, 2026.
The Pavilion is part of a multi-million pound package of planned improvements to Staveley town centre including plans to rejuvenate the High Street with a shop front improvement scheme and new paving and a public realm.
Overall plans also feature a better Market Place design, an improved passive offer area with open space for events and gatherings, play equipment for children, and for the area to be Wifi enabled with further shop improvements.
New paving, lighting, street furniture and planting is also planned while new signage is expected to help connect the town centre with Staveley’s other visitor attractions including the Chesterfield Canal and Staveley Hall.
Other improvements under the Staveley Town Deal include High Street and Market Place upgrades, new shop fronts, a mixed-use Staveley Town Basin centre, near Hall Lane, and the Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle centre near Barrowhill Roundhouse.
Chesterfield Borough Council’s Chief Executive Huw Bowen originally presented plans for the Staveley 21 Project for the town centre and its Market Place at a Staveley Town Council meeting in September, 2023, with hopes that it will attract more people, boost commerce, create jobs and raise the town’s profile.
The council has been asked for comment on its latest position concerning the Market Square revamp.