Pingdemic blamed for delay over business hub
FOR several months people in Chesterfield town centre have watched on as the council’s Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre has taken shape on the Holywell Cross Car Park, locally known as the “doughnut roundabout car park”.
However, Chesterfield Borough Council has now admitted the construction has hit problems and the opening of the building, which will provide 32 offices spread over three floors, will not happen as originally planned this summer.
In a statement, a council spokeswoman said the impact of people being “pinged” by the Government’s Covid app has meant a delay in the final stages of construction.
She said: “There have been some unexpected delays waiting for utility connections and, like all construction sites, there has been additional pressure on supply chains for materials and in the scheduling of tasks – like all businesses, contractors have been impacted by staff having to isolate due to the Covid-19 track and trace system.”
The Enterprise Centre forms a major part of the council’s nearly £20 million Northern Gateway project. Other elements of the plans include a multi-storey car park and a hotel in the town centre.
The Saltergate multi-storey car park across the road from the Enterprise Centre has been completed, as has the Premier Inn Hotel in the old Co-operative department building on Elder Way.
Now it looks like businesses hoping to move into the Enterprise Centre will have to wait a little longer, with the opening now being slated for late autumn.
The spokeswoman added: “Work on the construction of the new Enterprise Centre is well advanced. Most of the building is now complete and the council will be gaining access shortly to get the space ready to welcome tenants.
“We have had a good level of interest in the new state-of-the-art offices, including several firm reservations for space.
“We are really excited about the building and how it is taking shape – it is a fantastic new asset for the town.”