Plans launched for major Derbyshire logistics hub

A joint venture has launched plans for a huge logistics hub on Derbyshire's former Stanton Ironworks.

Back in December, Verdant, which is made up of the owners of Ward Recycling, along with Trust Utility Management, announced it had bought the 192-acre former steelworks at Ilkeston from St Gobain.

Now, it has formally launched its plans for the site, which will be named New Stanton Park. A marketing brochure has been produced, for which Marketing Derby provided data.

Initial plans for the site, which is at Junction 25 of the M1, will provide a new, strategic distribution hub for the Midlands.

With nationwide connectivity and thousands of potential employment opportunities, the development will have the capability to deliver new build warehousing from 15,000 sq ft to one million sq ft for sale and to let.

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Following the purchase by Verdant, the site at Lows Lane, Ilkeston will now go forward for outline planning consent to deliver general industrial and storage and distribution uses, with determination targeted by the end of 2021, enabling start on site from early 2022.

David Ward, director at Verdant, said: “This a real opportunity to create a new legacy for our region.

“We are in the early stages of master-planning and the options presented to market will help shape the development and bring sustainable business opportunities to the area.

“There is a multi-skilled workforce on the doorstep providing huge employment potential across the East Midlands.”

Preliminary work to obtain planning has started and a Community Liaison Group has been established, with regular meetings already underway.

The team is working towards submitting an outline planning application to Erewash Borough Council by this summer.

The development is being launched to market by joint agents M1 Agency and TBD Real Estate.

James Keeton, partner at M1 Agency, said: “Offering direct Midlands Mainline rail connectivity, the development will see the proposed expansion of the existing rail hub, accessible by all occupiers on the park for goods and logistics movements direct to and from the UK’s key ports.

“The current initial proposals are capable of accommodating the largest of goods locomotive, with 935-metre-long sidings on a site of approximately 16.7 acres, taking a proportion of HGV traffic off the road network.”