Town bids for £20m cash in regeneration bid

CHESTERFIELD is bidding for a huge £20 million in Government help and more than half will be used to refurbish the historic Stephenson Memorial Hall.

The money is being sought from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with £11m of that going towards the refurbishment of the hall, which dates back to 1879 and is Grade II-listed. The proposal includes expanding the seating capacity of the Pomegranate Theatre, housed in the hall, which could increase by as many as 300 seats from its limit of 590 seats, reconfiguring and modernising the Chesterfield Museum, also in the hall, and introducing a new gallery space, café bar, education and community facilities.

If the borough council is successful in the bid it says the remaining £8.5m will be used to regenerate the town centre.

The council says four areas would take on a range of flexible uses including markets, festivals, events, cultural celebrations and community gatherings.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “We recognise the need to invest in Chesterfield centre to make sure it remains a vibrant place for generations to come.”