The key role industrial schemes play in supporting economic growth

At this year’s Derby Property Summit, representatives from some of the city’s major industrial sites came together to explain the key role they play in driving economic growth.

The panel discussion heard how major businesses are choosing to locate, invest and expand in Derby thanks to the quality of its industrial sites, which are helping the city to stand out in a competitive market.

They are also playing a key role in helping to deliver local and regional growth ambitions

The panel discussion brought together Adrienne Howells, from SmartParc, Rob Richardson, from Indurent and Tom Goshawk, from the East Midlands Combined County Authority.

Adrienne is land director at SmartParc, which, in partnership with SEGRO plc, is behind SmartParc SEGRO Derby – a £300 million development, situated on a 155-acre regenerated brownfield site, focused on food manufacturing and distribution.

It is already home to giants such as HelloFresh and Greggs – and this summer, catering giant Compass Group UK & Ireland announced plans to open a 107,639 sq ft ‘Cuisine Centre’ at the site, producing more than 70 million meals a year for schools, hospitals and workplaces across the UK.

Speaking at the summit, Adrienne explained how local support helped get the scheme up and running.

She said: “Some people may remember it as the former Celanese site. But through collaboration and partnership we were able to bring forward the site.

“With that support – and various funding initiatives – that site would probably still be sat there.”

Adrienne said that it has planning permission for two million sq ft of space – around one million of which has already been built out.

Rob is development director at industrial and logistics space developer, owner and operator Indurent – the firm Indurent Park Derby.

Situated on a 50-acre site adjacent to Pride Park and Wyvern Retail Park, it is home to occupiers including Rolls-Royce, heat pump manufacturer Vaillant, Swedish medical technology company Getinge and a national training centre for Kia.

A recent arrival is Korean beauty brand PURESEOUL, which joins Sinoboom and Rodd & Gunn. Today, there is just one unit available.

Rob said: “Indurent Park Derby is one of our flagship sites and we’re extremely proud of it.

“A big theme of this year’s property summit is partnership – and I cannot stress enough how important partnership has been to this project.

“This site would never have come forward without making investment in Wyvern Way – to do that required collaboration between our business, Derby City Council and National Highways.

“We started on site in 2021 and we were going to do it in six years over six phases and we’ve done it in three.

“That just shows the confidence we, as a business, had in Derby.

“We’ve now got a great range of customers at Indurent Park Derby. We’ve invested £110 million in the site – but that leveraged well over £60 million from our customers. It has also created 450 jobs on site.”

Another major site which has huge potential to attract high tech manufacturing businesses is Infinity Park Derby, which is part of the East Midlands Investment Zone (EMIZ).

Tom Goshawk, head of strategic investment programmes at the East Midlands Combined County Authority, talked about the benefits offered by the EMIZ.

He also spoke about the East Midlands Freeport, for which EMCCA has recently become the accountable body, which includes the East Midlands Intermodal Park, close to Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston plant, in South Derbyshire.

Talking about EMIZ, he said: “It’s a sector specific growth programme looking at the advanced manufacturing and clean industries.

“It’s looking at developing those two key clusters across the area. It’s a 10-year growth programme backed by £160 million of funding.

“We’re looking to invest that in a variety of different things like infrastructure improvements, business development, skills and innovation support.

“We have three key sites for investment, including Infinity Park Derby. The northern part of this site is coming forward for development at this moment in time. We are trying to cluster around the nuclear, defence and potentially aerospace, advanced manufacturing and energy industries.

“As part of that, there are tax and business rates incentives, which businesses can benefit from if they occupy the site.

“As part of this development, we’ll be looking at research and innovation spaces where businesses can complement their existing activity – and develop and grow by building and commercialising new products.”

During the discussion, Adrienne stressed that SmartParc SEGRO Derby was not just aimed at the large food and drink manufacturers.

She said: “A fundamental part of SmartParc is supporting SMEs. Block 5 is a dedicated area that we will be bringing forward for smaller units, which will be far more flexible. It will also be food grade ready space.

“So, we want to encourage those smaller food businesses who have just started out – of which there are many in this region – to get in touch.”

When asked what his message to this year’s summit was, Rob said: “We’ve got one unit left  at Indurent Park Derby, in a prominent position and with great specification!”