Government urged to act on town bypass scheme

A highlighted route where the proposed bypass would run between Chesterfield and Staveley

Politicians have called for the government to confirm funding to help bring forward a regeneration and bypass scheme between two towns.

The Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route, in Derbyshire, would be a £166m 3.7-mile (6km) single-carriageway road.

Developers have submitted plans for a new primary school, leisure facilities and homes, but said the viability would depend on the bypass.

Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins said: "We need confirmed approval that the funding for the road will be made available."

Funding for the road project is currently being considered by the Department for Transport, and an update could be in the upcoming Autumn Budget, the BBC understands.

Along with reducing congestion, the road would "support investment in the economy" in areas like Barrow Hill and Staveley, bringing brownfield land back into use.

The route would involve diverting two sections of the Chesterfield Canal, with councils working closely with the Canal and River Trust to develop proposals.

Developers, MPs and councillors are all urging the government to accelerate the scheme

Tricia Gilby, the leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said the wider scheme had the backing of the public and private sector, and could see 1,300 new homes and a commercial estate creating more than 6,000 jobs over the next five to 10 years.

“Our collective ability to do this is reliant on government support for the Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route, and trying to secure this is a priority action," she said.

North East Derbyshire MP Louise Jones, whose constituency includes Staveley, said the scheme had "huge potential" for the area.

"I’m determined that we grab this opportunity with both hands – I’ll be working with Toby Perkins, [East Midlands Mayor] Claire Ward and our local councils to secure the funding we need to get the project up and running," she said.

Perkins added he would be pressing the case to ministers

"This is vitally important to the regeneration of Staveley and alongside improving traffic flows for everyone, it is likely to lead to thousands of new jobs and hundreds of new homes."

One end of the bypass would be located close to the Sainsbury's supermarket in Chesterfield