Through a joint venture partnership Central England Cooperative and Jomast Developments Ltd are planning to build an 89-bedroom hotel across the two upper floors of the four-storey building while the ground floor would host six restaurants sized between 2,929 sq ft and 3,796 sq ft and the basement would hold a health and fitness area.
Adam Hearld, development director for Jomast, said they were 'in the process' of talking to a number of operators who were 'keen to locate in the town and benefit from a market which is currently lacking in real choice for leisure consumers'.
“We will hopefully be successful in securing planning consent and able to commence works on the scheme in the New Year," he said.
The Co-op closed the doors of its department store in 2013 and it has been a key target for redevelopment since.
Chesterfield Borough Council leader John Burrows said the council's development and planning teams had worked with Jomast and Central England Co-operative to get to the point where a planning application could be submitted.
“However, as with all planning applications, the council’s planning committee will have to consider the application with an open mind, balancing all aspects of the scheme, and taking into account the opinions of the public, businesses and other bodies, before coming to a decision," he said.