Why we invested in Derby: Indurent

Indurent owns and operates 28 million sq ft of industrial and logistics space across the UK, ranging from multi-let industrial space through to big-box warehousing, and supports more than 2,000 businesses across all industry sectors. The business launched in July this year following the integration of Industrials REIT and St. Modwen Logistics, two of the UK industrial and logistics sector’s leading developers and operators. Here, Rob Richardson, development director at Indurent, explains why Indurent is investing in Derby.

Indurent has been active in Derby for over a decade, having been selected by Network Rail in 2014 as development partner to regenerate a 67-acre site that was previously part of industrial railway sidings close to the River Derwent.

The formerly neglected site, which occupies a prime position immediately adjacent to Pride Park and Wyvern Retail Park, presented a compelling opportunity to bolster the local economy through careful remediation and development.

In 2018, Indurent laid out plans for an expansive new industrial and logistics development, whose outstanding location and high building standards had the potential to create space for success for a variety of international manufacturing, automotive, engineering and distribution businesses, generating hundreds of new employment opportunities and bringing significant investment into the city.

Indurent has worked closely with Network Rail and Derby City Council to develop what has now become Indurent Park Derby, a market-leading industrial and logistics scheme, which provides more than 650,000 sq ft of high-quality and sustainable warehousing and already supports over 250 jobs for local people.

During the pre-development process, Indurent coordinated with the Environment Agency to sacrifice 15 acres of land on-site and transform it into a landscaped flood corridor adjacent to the River Derwent.

The team also worked closely with National Highways and Derby City Council to target investment towards a £40 million upgrade to local road infrastructure.

Between 2021 to 2024, Indurent Park Derby was delivered over a three-phase development programme, with more than £100 million invested in total.

Originally envisaged as a six-to- seven-year programme, the development process was expedited by Indurent following its acquisition by Blackstone to accelerate the delivery of new employment space and address the lack of new industrial and logistics units in the region, without compromising on build quality.

In line with the Indurent Code, which sets a best-in-class sustainability standard for all of its new developments, all units at the park are rated BREEAM ‘Excellent’, with an EPC A+ accreditation, smart building technology and rooftop PV providing both environmental benefits and operational cost saving opportunities for customers.

The collaboration with Derby Council and various other public and private sector stakeholders has been critical to the success of Indurent Park Derby.

This has helped Indurent attract an array of major employers to the city and will hopefully culminate in the creation of more than 1,000 jobs once the park is complete and fully occupied.

Beyond just creating industrial and logistics space, the units also provide more than 50,000 sq ft of high-quality office space, making Indurent one of the largest developers of Grade A office space in the Derby region over the past three years.

The park supports a wide range of jobs, from manufacturing and engineering roles through to office-based finance and R&D functions.

This has led to strong demand from a diverse mix of businesses and long-term commitments from several blue-chip global customers whose use of the park’s flexible warehousing and office accommodation has created a raft of exciting new employment opportunities for local workers and encouraged increased investment into the city centre.

Kia has taken 40,000 sq ft at the park for use as a cutting-edge new training facility to equip students with key STEM skills and knowledge required to meet the rapidly evolving demands of the automotive industry.

The building, customised by Indurent exclusively for Kia, facilitates advanced electrified training, upskilling apprentices and adult learners and empowering technicians to become leaders in electrification.

Swedish medical technology manufacturer Getinge has also opened a new Global Centre of Excellence for Chemistry and UK headquarters at the park, unlocking new opportunities for skilled local workers to join the med-tech giant’s research and development function within a state-of-the-art 78,000 sq ft unit.

German manufacturer Vaillant also committed to a new home in a high-tech facility on the park and is close to completing a comprehensive fit-out of its unit.

Once operational, the unit will be home to more than 200 skilled employees.

Indurent remains fully committed to further development in Derby and will complete the entire development by the end of 2025.

400,000 sq ft of the park’s space is already leased, and the delivery of further high-quality warehousing will generate new opportunities to attract even more investment into Derby and create hundreds of new jobs.