Plans to transform the upper floors of the former Wilko store in Chesterfield town centre into a 70-bed aparthotel are set to move forward.
Chesterfield Borough Council’s planning committee has been advised by officers to approve the proposals when they meet on Monday. The application relates to the vacant building on Vicar Lane, which has stood empty since Wilko closed in October 2023 after the retailer went into administration.
The development would see the upper floors of the building converted into aparthotel accommodation, while the ground floor would remain available for retail use. The proposals also include the addition of two extra storeys to the existing structure.
Planning documents submitted by the developer describe the scheme as a “significant private sector investment” in Chesterfield town centre, aimed at supporting regeneration and increasing footfall.
In their report recommending approval, council officers acknowledged the “substantial” extension would have an enclosing impact on South Street. However, they concluded that the benefits of redeveloping and bringing a large vacant building back into active use outweigh the potential drawbacks.
If approved, the scheme would mark a major step in the ongoing regeneration of Chesterfield town centre and the repurposing of prominent empty retail premises.
