The office sector has been identified as a strategic priority for Chesterfield Borough Council.
Speaking at the recent Chesterfield Investment Summit, Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council referenced the council’s commitment to funding both the new seven-story office block at Chesterfield Waterside and the new town centre Enterprise Centre.
He said that it was ‘absolutely the right thing to do’ to make these investments at the height of the pandemic when sadly too many Chesterfield residents were losing their jobs.
He added: “The town won’t have seen office accommodation of this quality before. The key now is to make sure that these offices meet the needs of employers looking to provide socially distanced, flexible and creative workspace in the post-Covid world.”
Office expert Darren Mansfield, Partner at Global Real Estate Consultants Knight Frank, who also spoke at the summit agreed that, despite the increase in homeworking as a result of the pandemic, the demand for high quality office space locally was likely to increase.
He explained: “Employee fatigue and deficiencies in data protection have all emerged from working from home, therefore it is not a long term option. Instead, a hybrid model of home and office working is at the heart of the workspace strategy of the future. Offices will become showcases that are the centre of innovation, education and employee wellbeing.”
Rather than having a single large office, Mr Mansfield said that businesses will want to spread risk. Large businesses are expected to look to regional markets like Chesterfield, which is well positioned to capitalise on the increased demand for quality office space.
No1 Waterside Place at Chesterfield Waterside benefits from having mainline rail connectivity on its doorstep as well as excellent local amenities.
Mr Bowen added: “Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Chesterfield continues to move forward. Town centre regeneration – and supporting retailers and office-based businesses to adapt to changing work practices post-Covid – is a key element of the council’s Economic Recovery Plan.”
This year the town’s annual Investment Summit, which is organised by Derbyshire Economic Partnership, Destination Chesterfield and Marketing Derby and is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, was held as a vitual event on 25 November.
As well as addressing the challenges facing the high street and its long-term survival, the summit also outlined how the town plans to capitalise on the office and rail opportunities that are projected to emerge post Covid.
As well as Huw Bowen and Darren Mansfield speakers at this year’s Summit, also included Ojay McDonald, Chief Executive of the Association of Town & City Management and Elaine Clark, Chief Executive of the Rail Forum Midlands.
You can watch the Investment Summit at https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/events/chesterfield-investment-summit/
If you’re looking for Grade A office accommodation in the East Midlands, get in touch with the team to learn more about the new seven-storey office development One Waterside Place at Chesterfield Waterside.