Office space demand soars at flagship developments

Demand for office space has soared in Chesterfield following the completion of several high-quality schemes.

According to new figures published by Destination Chesterfield, demand has increased since Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, the town’s newest centre, opened in July last year.

More than three-quarters (81%) of the office suites are now occupied at Northern Gateway, well ahead of a 50% 12-month target set by Chesterfield Borough Council.

Two floors of One Waterside Place, a 35,000 sq ft office block next to Chesterfield’s mainline railway station, are now occupied and the borough council reports strong interest in the remaining space.

Opened in January, One Waterside Place is located in Basin Square, a major part of the £340 million Chesterfield Waterside regeneration scheme.

Meanwhile, occupancy rates at Chesterfield’s established enterprise centres have rebounded to above pre-pandemic levels.

Private landlords are also succeeding in attracting businesses to new developments in Chesterfield.

Occupancy has reached 94% at The Glass Yard, a 50,000 sq ft office and retail park opened in 2022 by Blue Deer in Sheffield Road.

And FI Real Estate Management has secured deals on 1,143 sq ft and 7,647 sq ft spaces at The HQ, a former Royal Mail building delivering 44,000 sq ft of open-plan office space after refurbishment work completed in April.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and vice-chair of Destination Chesterfield, said: “Our local economy is growing and the investments we have made in modern attractive office space has helped bring new businesses into the town and created new jobs for our residents.

“Our investment coupled with our central location, culture of invention, competitive cost base and quality of life, is driving growth across the borough.

“Demand is soaring from local start-ups, relocating entrepreneurs from the likes of London, Leeds and Sheffield, and bigger businesses wanting more space or to consolidate their facilities in a single, central location.”