SmartParc SEGRO Derby

Constructed on the former British Celanese site on the east side of Derby, SmartParc SEGRO Derby will be home to the first low-carbon food manufacturing community, employing 4,500 people. Built across 2 million sq ft, the state-of-the-art food manufacturing and distribution park aims to pave the way for the food industry to collaborate to meet the challenges of sustainable production, while also addressing the need for efficient direct routes to consumers.

The campus will provide food manufacturing facilities, from start-up incubation units through to large-scale manufacturing facilities, ranging from 50,000 sq ft to 400,000 sq ft and 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. In May 2022 German food kit provider HelloFresh opened the first facility on site – a 118,00 sq ft unit called The Orchard.  A 400,000 sq ft distribution facility for HelloFresh – The Windmill – is currently under construction on site and due to open in 2024.

SmartParc’s revolutionary energy sharing infrastructure will utilise wind and solar combined with central services, to deliver the most sustainable food production community in the country. As development partner, SEGRO will provide a multi-million-pound investment to regenerate the brownfield site.

Why invest in Derby & Derbyshire?

For over three hundred 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: 155 acres
• Jobs: 4500
• Timescale: 2021-2024
• Delivery timescale: Immediate
• Planning status: Outline planning permission granted