Massive food hub set for spring start
WORK MAY SOON BEGIN ON SITE SET TO CREATE 5,000 JOBS
PRODUCTION at a huge new hi-tech food hub in Spondon could begin by the end of the year.
It is hoped that work to build the SmartParc development, which could create 5,000 jobs, will start in spring.
FOOD production could be in full swing by the end of the year if a planning application submitted by SmartParc gets the go-ahead in the near future.
The company has applied to create a 155-acre, hi-tech food manufacturing campus on the former Celanese site at Spondon.
The site will provide state-of-theart manufacturing facilities, start-up incubation units and a potential location for a food manufacturing technology centre of excellence.
The idea is to combine purposebuilt food production units and a central distribution facility, bringing food producers together on one campus. It is expected to create up to 5,000 direct jobs.
The company’s ambition is to provide a sustainable blueprint for the industry. This will harness the latest developments such as vertical farming and smart technology to improve production and energy efficiency, reduce costs and increase competitive advantage for the site’s tenants.
Vertical farming is a new development and is where crops are grown indoors in stacked layers, mitigating the vagaries of the weather and eliminating the need for pesticides.
Jackie Wild, SmartParc chief executive, said: “We are delighted to take another step forward in our plans to put Derby at the heart of the UK’s future in sustainable, efficient food manufacturing.
“We are liaising closely with local residents and stakeholders to ensure their views are incorporated in our plans to regenerate the site and exploring SME business and university partnerships to bring our collaborative next-generation sustainable food ecosystem to life.
“We are proud to be partnering with D2N2 and the city council to reenergise the local region.”
Plans for the £300 million SmartParc project were first unveiled last August. Money has come from the Government’s Getting Building Fund via D2N2, with £12 million to help launch the scheme.
It is hoped that bringing food producers together will reduce food waste, lower carbon output and bolster UK food security.
The campus would include a shared energy plant, designed to reduce energy consumption by 30%, and would harness the latest technology to improve production and efficiency, lowering costs by 20%.
Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of Derby City Council said: “We are hugely excited to see the SmartParc scheme progressing so quickly and positively. The project fits perfectly with Derby’s future ambitions.
“Its focus on innovation and lowering carbon outputs ticks key boxes in our economic recovery strategy. If planning is approved, it would greatly assist our efforts to diversify the city economy. And, of course, the project would create thousands of new jobs and rejuvenate a previously blighted but strategically important site.”
Access into the site is via Station Road and Holme Lane but there are plans for a new junction on the northern side.
Within the site, a road in leads to a central roundabout which splits in three roads. Certain roads are designated bus and car routes which lead to car park and building frontages. The central road is for HGVs only and leads to the service yards of the proposed units. A new cycle way will link up from north to south and around the perimeter of the site, connecting into the existing nature reserve. The access roads will provide cycle ways on either side.
A total of 2,100 total car parking spaces are planned, which includes a minimum of 84 accessible spaces and 105 for electric vehicles. There are also a minimum of 224 covered and secured cycle spaces and 54 motorcycle spaces as part of the plan.
John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, added: “Smart Parc is an exciting and innovative concept that will not only create thousands of jobs but also help diversify our economy.
“Marketing Derby has been working with their team for some time and we are delighted to see planning being submitted so quickly. It’s beginning to feel real, which is fantastic news.”
Subject to receiving planning permission, the company’s intention is to immediately start to redevelop the Celanese site in spring 2021 with planned opening and initial occupation by the end of the year. The site is due to be finally completed in 2024.
The application will be decided within the next eight to 12 weeks.