To make it easier to find the information you are looking for, we have grouped frequently asked questions into subject areas. If you can’t find the information you are looking for on this page, you can navigate back to the main Frequently Asked Questions page.
How do I find out how my business will be affected?
Businesses can drop-in to Ashbourne Business Centre (red door off Dig Street) every Tuesday from 12pm-3pm. The main contractor for the Highways and Public Realm element of Ashbourne Reborn has appointed a Public Liaison Officer (PLO). Neil will act as a point of contact for work-facing businesses, providing information about the works and assisting with practical arrangements like deliveries. If you would like to get in touch, you can also email
If you have a business in Ashbourne and would like email updates about planned works, you can sign up for our business-specific mailing list to receive the latest news straight to your inbox.
What are you doing to mitigate the impact of this work?
Although we expect that businesses will benefit from the completed project for many years to come, we acknowledge that this is a challenging time nationally for the retail and hospitality sector, and the works in Ashbourne may be exacerbating these challenges for some businesses. We are working closely with the Town Team and, where appropriate, with individual businesses to identify initiatives to help.
We are also working with partners, including Ashbourne Town Team, to increase marketing to support traders during the works and throughout 2025 we have run an 'open for business' campaign. Along with our website, social media and newsletters, we have commissioned lamp post banners, digital roadside signs and banners in prominent locations around the town centre to let people know that businesses are open as usual. In March, as the St John Street closure to traffic started, every household in Derbyshire Dales received the ‘Dales Matters’ magazine, which included an article encouraging shoppers to visit Ashbourne during the works. We will continue to work with local partners to promote and support Ashbourne while improvement works are under way.
Delivering a regeneration scheme in a small, compact and historic town centre was inevitably going to cause some disruption. The impact of the works was considered by the Project Board and a works programme agreed which aims to allow the works to be completed in the most efficient, cost effective and safe manner. The planned programme of works was shared at three public engagement sessions held in November and December 2024 to enable businesses to prepare for the construction period.
We know this change will create a more vibrant town and strengthen the local economy, however, everyone appreciates that delivering the change will be disruptive in the short term. We are committed to reducing disruption as much as possible and working closely throughout the project with local residents, businesses and visitors to work out how we can minimise the impact on their daily lives and trade.
The County Council have developed traffic management plans to ensure there are appropriate alternative routes during road closures in the town centre. Car parks are open as usual, access to businesses is being maintained throughout the works and customers are able to visit shops and businesses as usual.
We would advise businesses to use your own channels to let customers know useful information during the works, and if you would like to make an ‘open for business’ facebook post and tag in Ashbourne Reborn, we can share to the Ashbourne Reborn page. Derbyshire Dales District Council has also offered support from their business advisor to businesses with concerns.
How can I have my say in decisions about the town centre?
The Ashbourne Reborn proposals originated from businesses and community groups within the town. Ashbourne Reborn is a partnership scheme involving Ashbourne Town Team, Ashbourne Town Council and AshCom, with delivery of the Highways and Public Realm project being led by Derbyshire County Council and the Link Community Hub by Ashbourne Methodist Church. Business interests are represented by Ashbourne Town Team, made up of business owners and residents from the town. The Town Team has a place on both the overall Programme Board and two places on the Highways and Public Realm Project Board. If you or any other business feel your issues and concerns are not being represented, we would encourage you to get involved in the Town Team.
Will I be able to open as usual?
Yes. Businesses will be able to open as usual, contractors must ensure that you and your customers are able to access your premises. The contractors will work with you to identify any practical arrangements that could be affected by the works, like deliveries or waste collection.
Will there be compensation for any disruption?
There is no statutory provision for compensation by the Highway Authority (Derbyshire County Council) if a business is affected by roadworks, and the Highway Authority does not provide compensation for works undertaken for public benefit. Successive governments have taken the view that businesses should not have the right in law to any particular given level of passing trade, and that traders must take the risk of loss due to temporary disruption of traffic flows along with all the other various risks of running a business, so this position is in line with national policy. The project, originally proposed by local business representatives, and subject to a number of local engagement events prior to implementation, aims to create long-term improvements to the town centre for businesses, residents and visitors, with temporary disruption outweighed by the longer term public benefits.
What if I couldn't make it to the public meeting and drop-ins?
Residents and business were invited to attend a series of public information events. The events were open to all and provided more detail about future plans, with the opportunity to ask questions about the design, location and timing of the works. Follow this link to find the slide pack and link to watch a recording of the public meeting: Ashbourne Reborn public meeting, 3 December 2024
Further drop-ins will be announced so that residents and businesses in Ashbourne can find out more as work gets under way. They will be announced on the Ashbourne Reborn website, newsletter and social media.
Where can I get general business advice?
Derbyshire Dales businesses have access to our dedicated business adviser through the Derbyshire Dales Business Advice Service. The business adviser can provide advice on how to grow your business, signpost those who need advice on specific issues, and provide advice for businesses looking for grant funding.
How do I get in touch?
As work progresses we will post the latest information on the Ashbourne Reborn webpages, on Facebook and Instagram, and in our newsletters.
You can contact us by email at
