Chesterfield Northern Gateway Public Realm Works

About the project

Danaher & Walsh was appointed by Chesterfield Borough Council to carry out public realm and highway works as part of their Northern Gateway regeneration scheme.

Key details

Client: Chesterfield Borough Council
Project manager: Turner & Townsend
Project value: £1.65m
Date: January - July 2021

Key aims and challenges

The project involved improvement works to the whole length of Elder Way, along with its junctions with Saltergate and Knifesmithgate.

Its aim was to bring a new vibrancy to this area of Chesterfield's town centre, creating a more attractive environment and encouraging further investment in the town.

Funding for the scheme came from Chesterfield Borough Council, Sheffield City Region Infrastructure Fund (now South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority) and Jomast Developments, developers of the former Co-Op department store building on Elder Way.

The works comprised reconstruction of existing footways and paved areas with a mix of high-quality paving materials, plus the introduction of trees along Elder Way.

The area was redesigned with wider pavements, new loading bays and repositioned bus stops, as well as improvements to the taxi ranks on Knifesmithgate.

New, more user-friendly pedestrian crossings were constructed and new traffic signal systems installed.

New, modern street furniture was installed, including bus shelters, benches, cycle hoops and bins.

How did we do?

Works were carried out in meticulously planned phases to minimise disruption to the highway, business, the general public and transport operators.

Stakeholder liaison took place with surrounding businesses to ensure minimal disruption to their operations as the works progressed. This included the recently-opened Premier Inn, located in the former Co-Op building.

The scheme was carried out during the height of Coronavirus restrictions. A suite of mitigation measures were introduced to allow the works to take place while preventing virus transmission.