Investment News | 18 May 2021
High-tech food manufacturing campus gets green light
Plans for a £300 million high-tech food manufacturing and distribution campus have been given the green light.
The proposals by SmartParc for the 155-acre scheme on Derby’s former Celanese site, near Spondon, could create 5,000 jobs in the city.
The application for outline planning permission was recently approved unanimously by Derby City Council's planning committee.
Writing in support of the planning application, Marketing Derby said: “It will increase UK food security and our competitiveness around the world, as well as bringing much-needed jobs to the city.
“We believe the site will be a beacon in the latest ways to cut food waste, food miles and carbon output.
“This is a welcome development – at a time of an uncertain economic future – and it will be the largest single inward investment into the area since Toyota UK Manufacturing in 1989.”
The planned 1.8 million sq ft hub would provide state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, start-up incubation units and a potential location for a Food Manufacturing Technology Centre of Excellence.
SmartParc plans to use the latest technology to improve production and energy efficiency, including vertical farming.
It proposes 13 units dedicated to food production, including a distribution centre and energy/waste centres.
A steering group, comprising SmartParc, D2N2 LEP and the council, has been established to oversee the vision of the project and ensure that collaborative working is embedded within the partnership.
