At its heart VSCR is using the 3 core principles of sustainability – economy, environment and people, is guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and regenerative economics to support the growth of the local visitor economy, whilst helping to enhance social and natural capital.
VSCR is being delivered by partners and stakeholders from North Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire.
Why VSCR is important
Significant world-class heritage within a local context - Bolsover Castle, Clumber Country Park, Creswell Crags, Hardwick Hall, Sherwood Forest and Welbeck Estate - all within a 10km radius.
One of the best multi-user trail networks in the country, with over 100km of surfaced trails and good rail links to the Robin Hood Line and the Midland Main Line.
Some stunning countryside. The magnesian limestone plateau around Bolsover has the highest woodland cover and sites of biodiversity value in Lowland Derbyshire outside the National Forest. Over the past 30 years there has been a remarkable landscape transformation with over 10 square kilometres of brownfield land re-natured, including the planting of tens of millions of trees to sequester carbon.
With over 3.7 million people living within a one-hour drive time catchment it is a central, accessible destination that connects Sherwood Forest to the Peak District (which are only 25km apart).
Programme area
The programme area is roughly between Chesterfield, Workshop and Ashfield/Mansfield. Please see the programme area map attached to this page.
Destination plan
The destination plan identified that around 8 million day and 900,000 overnight visitors enjoy the area each year, worth £455 million to the economy.
This supports around 6,200 jobs. It estimated that an additional £85 million could be added to the economy by VSCR and this could support a further 650 new jobs.
The 10-year plan is in its initial delivery phase. The cycling trails programme will improve the local access network and infrastructure and feasibility studies will support the business case for future investment.
Cycling trails programme
Recently, 8km of new and improved trails have been completed around the Pleasley Hub with funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Local Transport Plan. More work is currently planned for Shirebrook and the Skegby Trail.
Feasibility studies
A number of feasibility studies have been funded by the Business Rates Retention Fund and the following are now complete:
- Pleasley Hub
- natural capital and nature connectedness report
- trails network audit
- site accessibility audit
- social media, PR and marketing plan (coming soon)
Pleasley Hub
The Pleasley Hub was one of 3 hubs identified within the destination plan and is the initial focus of much of VSCR's work.
The Pleasley Hub brings together the National Trust at Hardwick Hall, The Land Trust, the Pleasley Pit Trust and Derbyshire Countryside Service at Pleasley Pit Country Park, and Bolsover District Council at Pleasley Vale.
The aim is to create a critical mass of activity that encourages more local people and visitors to enjoy the area.
Business case
Over the next 12 months the partners will be bringing together and summarising all the relevant insight gathered in the destination plan and the feasibility studies, and by applying the principles of regenerative economics, will produce a business plan to support further investment.
Further information
For further details, contact Andy Heath email: andy.heath@derbyshire.gov.uk or tel: 07768 502360.