SEGRO and SmartParc to deliver high-tech food distribution campus

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SmartParc has partnered with SEGRO to develop a 1.85m sq ft high-tech food manufacturing and distribution campus in Spondon, Derby. SmartParc SEGRO Spondon is set to be initially occupied in early 2022. It is being built on the 112 acre former British Celanese site.

SmartParc has announced SEGRO as its development partner. SEGRO will work with SmartParc to create a new asset class dedicated to ‘state of the art’ food manufacturing and distribution. As development partner, SEGRO will provide a multi-million-pound investment to regenerate the brownfield site. SmartParc will provide the onsite managed services, supporting the food community to increase production efficiency and drive reduced operational costs through collaborative working. SmartParc’s energy sharing infrastructure will utilise wind and solar combined with central services, to deliver sustainable food production.

The announcement of the partnership follows Derby City Council granting planning permission in June and the agreement of grant funding contributions from D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and Derby City Council. D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership has allocated £12m towards the project from the Government’s Getting Building Fund – the largest single allocation from D2N2’s £44m allocation.

The 1.85m sq ft collaborative hub at Spondon will provide food manufacturing facilities ranging from start-up incubation units through to large-scale manufacturing facilities ranging from 50,000 to 400,000 sq ft. The site will also be home to a Food Manufacturing Technology Centre of Excellence to offer education and career opportunities in both local and global food supply chains.

SmartParc SEGRO Spondon will be home to a low-carbon food manufacturing community. SEGRO state the consolidation of goods deliveries at the central distribution hub will streamline the distribution chain, providing a reduction in cost for occupiers whilst improving sustainability by eliminating food miles.

Andrew Pilsworth, Managing Director of National Logistics at SEGRO, said, “SmartParc’s bold new concept for food manufacturing and distribution has the potential to be a true game-changer. Over the last 18 months we’ve seen the importance of having robust supply chains closer to home and being able to quickly and efficiently distribute goods. SmartParc enables both of these within the vital food and drink sector and does so while keeping sustainability at its heart. We look forward to working together to make the concept a success.”

Source: SEGRO