East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward has said that ground investigations may get underway next year to potentially pave the way for the long-awaited Chesterfield–Staveley bypass scheme and Staveley Growth Corridor.
The £166 million Chesterfield–Staveley Regeneration Route project, currently overseen mainly by Derbyshire County Council, aims to reduce traffic congestion, create new jobs and open up the Staveley Growth Corridor for businesses as part of a series of plans for the region.
But while the Chesterfield–Staveley bypass is still waiting on a Government decision to help fund the scheme, the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s Mayor has confirmed that ground investigations could take place as soon as March 2026 to establish the condition of the land for the potential scheme.
Ms Ward said: “We think at the moment the full groundworks will take about 12 months in two phases. We are making some progress but, obviously, it is down to the Government to decide once it has all the information.”
The combined authority has already allocated £2.5 million of Transport for City Regions funding towards the development and investigation of options for the Chesterfield–Staveley Regeneration Route plans.
Ms Ward has previously stated she is keen to invest money for a feasibility study for the bypass scheme, subject to a business case and a ground investigation, while awaiting a Government decision on the scheme to formally give it the go-ahead.
She added that none of the plans for the Chesterfield–Staveley bypass involves “an overnight or relatively short process”, but work is starting to understand the state of the land.
The project was reported as the county’s most expensive proposed infrastructure scheme after its estimated costs increased to £166 million in December 2022, and it had been hoped that a Government decision about the funding would have been announced sooner.
Derbyshire County Council originally submitted an outline business case to the former Conservative Government after working closely with Chesterfield Borough Council, seeking £141 million to support delivery of the project.
A local contribution of £25 million was also required to fund the overall scheme, which would bring its total cost to £166 million.
If the proposed 6km road goes ahead, it is hoped that it will unlock the development of the former Staveley Works site for new housing, commercial units and community spaces, as well as the former Staveley Chemical Works site for employment uses.
Derbyshire County Council still has this scheme in its sights and hopes to see a new single carriageway route of nearly four miles built between Chesterfield and Staveley, relieving congestion on the network in the area and reducing traffic-related emissions and pollution associated with congestion.
Chesterfield Borough Council Leader Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins and North East Derbyshire MP Louise Sandher-Jones have all called on the Government to secure funding for the scheme.
It is hoped the scheme will provide economic growth, jobs and homes, a primary school, leisure opportunities and the revival of brownfield land as part of plans for the Staveley Growth Corridor, which will be largely dependent upon the Chesterfield–Staveley bypass being built.
The Government has not yet made any commitments to provide the remaining necessary funding to complete and get the £166 million Chesterfield–Staveley bypass scheme up and running, but EMCCA has stressed that it will continue engaging with the Government and partners to ensure any future funding decisions reflect the needs of the area.
EMCCA Mayor Ms Ward has indicated her support for the bypass regeneration scheme, as the former Staveley Chemical Works site, together with the former Hartington Colliery site, has also been identified as part of EMCCA’s East Midlands Investment Zone plans to attract new green technology, create jobs and advance manufacturing businesses.
Chesterfield Borough Council has earmarked the Staveley Growth Corridor and Hartington Commerce Park regeneration sites, including the Hartington Industrial Park, to be included in EMCCA’s Investment Zone scheme, which should bring in tax incentives, capital and additional revenue funding to support the sites, businesses and job opportunities, while attracting investors.
It is hoped that EMCCA will receive millions of pounds of Government funding over ten years to support growth in green industries, advanced manufacturing and its proposed Investment Zone.
Work has already got underway on the Hartington Commerce Park industrial site in Staveley, with a new access road connecting the 20-hectare site to Hall Lane after it received outline planning permission for industrial and warehouse development.
The Hartington Commerce Park will form part of the Staveley–Chesterfield East Midlands Investment Zone, which will support the growth of the advanced manufacturing and clean technology sectors.
Investment in the Chesterfield–Staveley bypass, the Staveley Growth Corridor and the Hartington Commerce Park Investment Zone is also expected to support the Government-funded £25.2 million Staveley Town Deal regeneration plans.
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet has also recently included the Staveley Growth Corridor as part of a Growth Zone North programme under its many Regeneration Project Pipeline schemes, which are set to benefit from the latest Government-backed EMCCA funding worth millions of pounds.
EMCCA Mayor Claire Ward said she hopes that the Staveley Growth Corridor becomes an important place for investment and experiences considerable growth in the coming years.
Should the Chesterfield–Staveley bypass and Staveley Growth Corridor get underway, they will be expected to support a Staveley Vision Masterplan overseen by Chesterfield Borough Council, which includes the current £25 million Staveley Town Deal regeneration scheme now underway.
EMCCA, which brings together representatives from four local authorities – Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council – is due to take over responsibility for transport from the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire authorities.
