Construction begins at St. Modwen Park Derby

Stephen George + Partners (SGP) is celebrating the erection of steelwork on the first units at the 67 acre St. Modwen Park Derby. Situated on a brownfield site close by Derby’s popular Pride Park, the first phase of the scheme of four units totalling 307,000 sqft of warehouse space with offices, plus associated loading, servicing and parking areas, landscaping and infrastructure. A flood alleviation scheme is also underway, creating a flood corridor along one bank of the River Derwent.

Explains Stuart Hancox, Studio Director SGP: “SGP has been involved in this development since 2011, masterplanning the entire site. The character and development mix of the park has evolved since its inception and is now a landscaped industrial and logistics park in line with St. Modwens Swan Standard. The units on these first phases are speculative and St. Modwen expects that the new park will become a major regional hub for manufacturing, logistics and distribution, providing an additional area of strength in the local economy.”

Phase 1 contains four units of 39,350 sqft, 53,250 sqft, 78,146 sqft, whilst Phase 2 has a single unit of 131,318 sqft. All the units take on the St. Modwen brand aesthetic with stylish shades of grey, a banding effect towards the roofline and an emphasis on the office elevations, using extensive white panelling and glazing and a dark grey projecting wrap around frame to give definition. SGP has enhanced the two units fronting the main Wyvern Way Road bordering the site, layering vertical grey sections to create an abstract shadow effect that will interact with the real shadows on these elevations from the trees along the road.

Continues Stuart: “Not only did we need to include a robust and attractive flood alleviation corridor beside the river, but the landscaping was an important element across the site, delivering on St. Modwen’s Park Code. We designed an uplifting environment around the buildings, to enhance staff well being and add outdoor amenities. We were able to work with the St. Modwen team and landscape architects Barry Chinn Associates to develop a meaningful landscape that integrated harmoniously with the buildings, roads and yards.”

Running the entire length of the site, beside the River Derwent, corridor of lowered flood land sits between the river and the raised site, and will contain native grasses and flowers, trees and small ponds where any flood waters can pool before draining slowly away. Walkways meander through the greenery, linking with a circular walk / running track that circumnavigates the site. Further into the development, a series of swales lead to attenuation ponds with seating areas to give staff additional space to relax.

The next milestone is practical completion is anticipated for October 2022.