Market fully opens to shoppers after major revamp

It was the first day of the Market Place being fully open to shoppers and traders

Chesterfield Market Square is fully open again to shoppers as part of a multi-million pound project to revamp the town centre.

The year-and-a-half long project, called Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield, began last summer.

Now the Market Square has completely reopened after work to relay surfaces, replace market stalls and make the layout more visitor-friendly.

The next phase, in New Square, is set to be completed in spring 2026.

The council hopes the changes will ensure the market's continued popularity

Wendy Bailey, who sells antiques on Chesterfield's Thursday Flea Market, said: "The new stalls are fantastic, they provide a great space which we can trade from in all weathers, are built to a really high standard, and we've had lots of great compliments from customers about them.

"With the upgrades across the square, the market is looking the best it has for many years, and it creates a really welcoming environment for both traders and customers."

Officials said the redesigned layout offers wider, more open avenues for shoppers to explore, along with a new central flexible space designed to host a variety of events throughout the year.

Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council's cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: "This is the start of a new chapter for our town centre, with the historic market at its heart.

"The improvements we've made will ensure we can attract great traders and more customers to Chesterfield for many years to come."

The project is funded with almost £20m from the government's Levelling Up Fund, which will also go towards the refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall.