Chesterfield has the raw ingredients in place to capitalise on the projected growth in rail travel amidst the Greta Thunberg effect and HS2, revealed experts at the recent Celebrate Chesterfield event (11 March).
The creation of an HS2 station on the doorstep of Chesterfield Waterside as well as a maintenance depot at Staveley and investment in the borough by Spanish train manufacturer Talgo, makes Chesterfield well-placed for the UK’s projected growth in the rail industry.
Image taken from HS2 Masterplan at Chesterfield Railway Station
At the conference it was announced that Chesterfield is at the forefront of Talgo’s All Britain Strategy. The company, which has a 60% market share of the rail industry in Spain, established its head office in Chesterfield early this year. It now has plans to open a research and development centre, co-located with Barrow Hill Roundhouse, with recruitment due to begin shortly. The company is currently bidding to supply trains to HS2.
Speaking at the event, Jon Veitch, Managing Director of Talgo UK, praised Chesterfield’s connectivity, saying: “Chesterfield provides us with an ideal location to access clients throughout the UK and take advantages of the growing opportunities within the rail sector being driven, in part, by the Greta Thunberg effect Already this has had a detrimental effect on air travel in Spain, further opening up opportunities for Talgo. We anticipate a similar effect in the UK and we want to be at the forefront of the rail revolution in the UK.”
In addition to Jon Veitch, Elizabeth Fagan CBE, Chair of D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, also spoke at the annual Celebrate Chesterfield Conference which was organised by Destination Chesterfield.
Elizabeth Fagan CBE said: “The 2008 Climate Change Act allowed the opportunity for the UK Government to declare its ambition on carbon reduction and set legally binding targets, HS2 allows our region to be at the forefront of declaring itself carbon neutral as well as being a leading bastion in energy efficiency and development and use of clean energy technology.
“HS2 is a once in a generation opportunity for the town, enabling employment opportunities to be unlocked. We must ensure we take this moment in time to deliver our carbon neutral ambition to improve the skills of the people who work in this region and ensure that Chesterfield, D2N2 and Midlands region is at the forefront of leading this UK-wide ambition.”
The Basin square neighbourhood of Chesterfield Waterside is ideally located to benefit from HS2.
Businesses and resident based at Basin Square will be walking distance from Chesterfield Train Station and the planned HS2 stop, putting them within 90 minutes of London and other major UK cities.
Construction of Phase 1 of the £70 million Basin Square scheme is due to commence in 2020. Once complete, it will boast 4,000sqm of B1 and A1/A4a high quality office accommodation, 310 Built to Rent apartments, an 84-hotel and a 442-space multi-storey care park. The neighbourhood will be located around the canal basin which will become a hub for events, festival and markets.
Mr Veitch added; “We are delighted to be investing in Chesterfield. The town is on the cusp of sustainable, generational change and we very much want to be a part of Team Chesterfield and its future.”
To find out more about investment opportunities at Chesterfield Waterside contact our team on 1246 260206 or email admin@bolsterstone.co.uk