SmartParc SEGRO Derby

SmartParc SEGRO Derby is a collection of world-class, cutting-edge food production facilities based around a campus style park, set in a 62-hectare (c. 155-acre) site on the east side of Derby, which employs 4,500 people.

The 2 million ft² hub offers flexible spaces ranging from starter units (3,500 ft²) to manufacturing facilities (400,000 ft²), and aims to pave the way for the food industry to collaborate in meeting the challenges of sustainable production and addressing the need for efficient direct routes to consumers.

The site will be home to a food manufacturing technology centre of excellence to future-proof the food industry, offering education and career opportunities to secure both the local and global food supply chains. German food kit provider HelloFresh was the first business to take up residency on SmartParc and has recently moved into its new 400,000 ft² advanced distribution centre on site.

A new Energy Centre, which will help reduce the carbon footprint of businesses on site, was unveiled in Q1 2024 – the first of its kind in the food industry, the Centre is a shared heating and cooling system and future-proofed energy balancing system.

As development partner, SEGRO will provide a multi-million-pound investment to regenerate the brownfield site.

Why invest in Derby?

For over 300 years Derby has been home to innovators and thought leaders. We are the UK Capital for Innovation, with global names and their extensive supply chains underpinning our strong economy. Rolls-Royce’s global civil aerospace and defence campuses are here, whilst Alstom is part of our significant rail cluster – Europe’s largest. SmartParc will create a world-leading sustainable food manufacturing hub, and we are leading the way in future fuel technologies, using our advanced manufacturing expertise to revolutionise the way low-carbon energy is used.

Derby’s location at the heart of the UK has been instrumental to the city’s success. Over 80% of Great Britain can be reached within a four-hour drive, thanks to the region’s excellent connectivity links. Derby’s proximity to East Midlands Airport (the UK’s largest pure freight hub) ensures that goods can easily be moved internationally via air.

Over the past 10 years, £3.1bn has been invested into Derby, with a further £1.7bn of known investment in the pipeline, including projects which will revitalise the city centre: over 2000 new homes by 2025; a new 3,500-seater performance venue by 2024; and a new university campus and business school for 6,000 students by 2030.

Insight for investors

• Type of investment sought: End-user occupiers
• Target investor(s): Food and drink
• Value and cost info: £300m development cost
• Site size: 62 hectares (c155 acres)
• Jobs: 4500
• Timescale: 2021-2024
• Delivery timescale: Immediate
• Planning status: Outline planning permission granted