Derby’s ‘fab four’ to feature in updated investment prospectus

Four major Derby schemes are set to feature in an updated investment prospectus, which is set to be launched by the Midlands Engine at this year’s UKREiiF.

The Midlands Investment Portfolio is an online tool, which brings together capital investment projects from across the region, from city centre regeneration schemes to developments driving the transition to net zero.

The Derby schemes which will feature in the updated portfolio are Infinity Park Derby, Heart of the City, SmartParc SEGRO Derby and the University of Derby City Hub.

Infinity Park Derby, which was awarded Enterprise Zone status in 2016, is a 100-acre commercial and technology park adjacent to the world headquarters of Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace

A collaboration between Derby City Council, the Harpur Crewe Estate, Rolls-Royce and Infinity Park Derby LLP, which includes Wilson Bowden Developments and Peveril Securities, it is already home to the Nuclear Skills Academy, training 2,000 new apprentices over the next ten years and the UK’s latest Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC Midlands).

Recently, the city council backed a report recommending that Infinity Park Derby be included in a bid for an East Midlands County Combined Authority (EMCCA) Investment Zone.

One of 12 planned across the UK, the East Midlands Investment Zone would offer a range of incentives to firms based within its boundaries, including business rates retention and tax incentives, to help boost economic growth and create thousands of jobs.

Heart of the City is a project which aims to breathe new life into Derby city centre.

It will offer a range of leisure, commercial and community facilities, connected to a new business and residential district, incorporating the Bold Lane area and Northern Quarter.

Plans for the former Assembly Rooms site involve a multi-functional building, with spaces for meeting, working, and creating a restaurant and commercial space above.

The plans are set in a redesigned and enhanced Market Place, which will become a focal point for the city and will create new and improved green spaces, including ‘pocket parks’ to support relaxation and wellbeing.

The scheme also aims to create ‘green and blue corridors’ to improve connectivity between open spaces, such as Cathedral Green and the River Derwent and encourage more active travel across the city centre to underline the city’s net zero ambitions.

The entry in the Portfolio also highlights opportunities at Becketwell in the city centre.

Built across 2.4 million sq ft, SmartParc SEGRO Derby is a £300 million state-of-the-art food manufacturing and distribution park, which will be home to the first low-carbon food manufacturing community, employing 5,000 people and paving the way for the industry to collaborate to meet the challenges of sustainable production.

The site provides start-up incubation units through to large-scale manufacturing facilities and will be home to a Food Manufacturing Technology Centre of Excellence.

In 2022, German meal kit provider, HelloFresh became the first business to take residency at the site.

This year, the firm opened ‘The Windmill’ at SmartParc SEGRO Derby – it’s largest and most advanced distribution centre in Europe.

Finally, the University of Derby City Hub is an ambitious project which will see the university develop its city centre footprint and improve connectivity between its sites.

It focuses on the development of the area around One Friar Gate Square, Ford Street, Bridge Street, Agard Street and Nuns Street, in Derby.

The overall ambition is to create two distinct but linked areas in the city: an Academic Zone, centred around the university’s current Sir Peter Hilton Court site, and an Enterprise Zone, based around the Princess Alice Court halls of residence and Enterprise Centre area.

The Midlands Investment Portfolio will be launched at a special reception, which will take place on Tuesday 21 May in The Asian and African Gallery of the Royal Armouries.

The invite-only event is expected to bring together more than 300 leaders from businesses, universities and local government.

It will feature a welcome from Midlands Engine chairman Sir John Peace and a Ministerial keynote to launch the new and improved Midlands Investment Portfolio.

Christopher Tebbs, an inward investment executive from Marketing Derby’s Invest in Derby team, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to showcase a number of high-quality schemes that we currently have here in Derby.

“These four schemes each offer something different to investors and will help to transform the city.

“The sites have already attracted substantial interest from the public and we look forward to seeing them continue to be brought forward.”