Developer secures deal for well-known car breaking site

Ivygrove Developments is planning its next industrial scheme after securing a deal for a well-known car breaking site in Derby.

The firm, which specialises in the provision of small and medium size industrial premises, has acquired the Albert Looms site at Spondon.

Ivygrove has been responsible for providing hundreds of new and refurbished units across Derby and further afield.

These include prominent industrial regeneration projects such as Eagle Park, in Alfreton Road.

Its latest project at Merlin Park, in Osmaston Road, is rapidly progressing towards a successful conclusion and the Looms site will ensure a continuous supply of Ivygrove units into the Derby market.

The new development, to be known as ‘Looms Business Park’, will provide up to 20 industrial premises ranging in size from 2,000 to 20,000 sq ft, which will be available in 2026 to either buy or lease.

Nick Blount, of Ivygrove said: “We are keen to continue supplying workshop and storage units into the local market and our successes at Merlin Park demonstrate that demand continues unabated for our product.

“Employment land for small and medium-sized units is difficult to find, and it seems housing is being prioritised by developers whereby sites are more readily available.

“We are therefore absolutely delighted to have acquired such a prime site as the former Looms yard, and we cannot wait to start building.”

The Looms site was a popular location from the early 1970s for hundreds of car owners who required parts for their ageing cars, which were not always available at local franchises.

John Blount, chairman of Ivygrove, said: “Looms were responsible for breaking up steam engines and timber goods carriages in the early 1960s after Dr Beeching took ‘the axe’ to the railways, closing hundreds of stations in rural England and Wales.

“The change from steam to diesel also played a major part in the demise of the famous Princess and Jubilee class steam engines, together with the workhorse engines, many of which were built in Derby at the ‘Loco Works’ which is now the home of hundreds of businesses on Pride Park.”

Salloway Property Consultants represented Ivygrove in the acquisition of the Looms site.

Director Stephen Salloway said: “Unsurprisingly, such a prime site generated considerable interest and potential buyers were asked to make their best offers in an informal tender procedure.

“Ivygrove made a very competitive bid but moreover, they were able to demonstrate an impressive ‘track record’, which provided the sellers with the ‘comfort’ and ‘certainty’ they were seeking.

“I am grateful to Nick Hosking at Innes England, who represented the sellers, and helped to overcome some of the hurdles encountered during the contract process.”

Ivygrove is expecting to submit a detailed planning application for the site before the end of this month, with approval hopefully before year end.