What it's like to live in Staveley

Across the Chesterfield council area, 20.7% of homes are social rented, above the England average of 17.1%. Council housing makes up the bulk of that at 17.5%, with housing associations at 3.2%. Owner occupation stands at 62.6% and private renting at 16.2%.

Chesterfield Borough Council is far and away the biggest social landlord with 8,632 homes, followed by The Guinness Partnership with 612, South Yorkshire Housing Association with 182, Places for People Living+ with 163 and Sage Homes with 152. Average weekly social rents for 2025/26 in the borough are around £93 for one bed, £101 for two beds and £106 for three beds, which is modest by national standards.

The age profile leans a little older than England as a whole: 21.6% are 65 or over against 18.4% nationally, and 28.2% are aged 45 to 64. Under 16s make up 16.9%. In 2024-25 the council let 671 social homes and 54 council homes changed hands through mutual exchange, with 2,333 households on the housing register at March 2025.

Staveley is well served for primary schools. Speedwell Infant School is about 0.2 miles out, Staveley Junior School 0.3 miles, and St Joseph's Catholic and CofE (VA) Primary School half a mile. Poolsbrook Primary Academy and Barrow Hill Primary Academy cover the outlying communities, both within a mile.

For secondary, Netherthorpe School is 0.7 miles away and Springwell Community College 0.9 miles, so most families have two options close to home without a long journey. Whittington Green School is about 2.6 miles off, towards Chesterfield. Always check current admission arrangements with the council, as catchments and places change year to year.

For younger children and weekends, Poolsbrook Country Park less than a mile away is the big draw, with King George V Park handier for a quick run around. Community centres including The Staveley Centre, The Haven and Barrow Hill Memorial Hall host local activities. The nearest libraries are at Eckington and Old Whittington, both just under three miles, so a trip rather than a stroll.

Most people in Staveley get about by car or bus. The main roads link the town quickly into Chesterfield and out towards the M1, which makes Sheffield, Mansfield and the wider East Midlands doable for work or family visits. Parking is generally easier here than in a city centre.

Trains are the weak point. The only station within three miles is Roundhouse Halt, about 1.3 miles away, which is tied to the Barrow Hill railway site rather than being a regular commuter stop. If you need rail, you will realistically be travelling into Chesterfield station first, usually by bus or car.

On foot, central Staveley works well. Morrisons and Heron Foods are around a tenth of a mile from the middle of town, the Healthy Living Centre and several pubs are right there, and King George V Park is a couple of hundred yards away. Primary schools sit within half a mile. If you live out at Barrow Hill, Poolsbrook or Hollingwood, expect to rely more on the bus or a car for bigger shops and appointments.

Green space is Staveley's strongest card. Poolsbrook Country Park, 0.8 miles out, is the one people name first, with water and open ground to walk. King George V Park is right in town for everyday use, and Renishaw Park, Eastwood Park and Stanfree Park are all within about two and a half miles if you fancy a change of scene.

For exercise indoors, the Healthy Living Centre is in the town itself, and Area 51 Martial Arts and Tricking Academy is around 2.8 miles away. Community venues like Hollingwood Hub and the Hollingwood Community Room run local groups and sessions.

For a drink or a meal out, Staveley keeps things local and unfussy. Tilleys Tavern and Harleys are in the centre, with Beechers Brook just around the corner, The Speedwell Inn half a mile away and the All Inn a little beyond that. For bigger nights out, cinemas and a wider choice of restaurants, most people head into Chesterfield or further on to Sheffield.

Figures here are for the wider Chesterfield council area rather than Staveley alone. At the 2021 Census, 55.3% of adults were in work, slightly below the England figure of 57.4%, with unemployment at 2.7% against 3.5% nationally. By September 2026, 3.5% of 16 to 64 year olds were claiming unemployment related benefits, a little under the England rate of 4%.

That picture suggests a steady rather than booming local jobs market. Plenty of people work locally in retail, care, logistics and services, while others commute into Chesterfield, Sheffield or along the M1 corridor.

Chesterfield Royal Hospital, under three miles from Staveley, is a major employer in the area, and the town's own shops, schools and community services provide local work. If your job is in Sheffield or Mansfield, a car makes the commute far more flexible than relying on rail, given the limited station options close to Staveley. It is worth mapping your actual journey before committing to a swap.