Investment in Revitalised Peak Village Pays Off as Destination Continues to Grow

The ambition to be the home of choice for local independents has taken another step forward with the arrival of family owned Lamb’s Cakes and Bakes in the Courtyard. Relocating from its original location in Chesterfield, the new premises offers an extensive range of baked goods made on the Peak Village site by owners Richard and Sarah Lamb.

Wild Olive is another independent family run business joining Peak Village bringing its new brand of sustainable lifestyle products for body and home, all handmade in Derbyshire. Opening in early April, it will be a second store for the retailer along with its existing shop in Buxton.

With Spring in the air, Peak Village is delighted to be welcoming its first permanent garden retailer in early April. Garden World will be opening a 5500 sq ft store with a similar outdoor space offering beautiful products for both garden and home. From trees and shrubs to giftware, outdoor and indoor furniture, this retailer is set to be a must visit destination.

An exciting new venture will open in June with Chatsworth Kitchen. Set to offer a mix of food and homewares, it will expand the Peak Village food offer providing more choice, increasing footfall, and improving the mix of retail and leisure.

“We’re delighted to be welcoming all our new tenants as we continue on our path to become a friendly home of local independents. We are creating a lovely blend of national brands and local names to deliver something really attractive to our customers,” said Katayune Jacquin, Peak Village Centre Manager.

“The launch of Chatsworth Kitchen demonstrates additional investment and commitment to Peak Village from Chatsworth and The Devonshire Group. It’s all having a positive knock-on effect with other stores now drawing up plans to upgrade their offer in tune with new investment in the quality and appearance of the site.”

The latest developments follow store openings late last year of Dr Derbyshire’s Emporium, Denby Pottery and Dotique, the designer fashion brand for women.

Situated in the village of Rowsley on the edge of the Peak District National Park, Peak Village hosts nearly 20 shops and already employs between 80 and 100 people. Aiming to offer something different from traditional high streets and shopping malls, Peak Village is targeting a higher percentage of independent retail brands and operators with a strong local connection.

Peak Village was bought last year by the Devonshire Group, the company that represents the interests of the Devonshire family at nearby Chatsworth. Approximately £1m has been committed to redevelopment with more than half already spent on essential repairs, redecoration, refitting of vacant units, and the landscaping of public areas with planters and new street furniture.

“We’re continuing to upgrade facilities at Peak Village, which was underinvested for some years previously. That’s starting to have a strong impact on our ability to attract new tenants and new jobs to the site and in the long-run, we believe it will generate millions of pounds of retail revenue for the Derbyshire economy,” says Andrew Byrne, Property Development Director at the Devonshire Group.

The Devonshire Group has strong experience in retail through its existing operations at Chatsworth and at Bolton Abbey and is a landlord to many retail outlets across its estates in Derbyshire and Yorkshire.