This week, I was honoured to officially open the new Energy Centre at the SmartParc SEGRO site, along with Sir John Peace (Chair of the Midlands Engine), Jackie Wild (Group CEO), Paul Simpson (Chief Executive of Derby City Council) and Baggy Shanker (Leader of Derby City Council). The site is constructed on the former British Celanese site in Spondon in my Mid Derbyshire constituency.
SmartParc SEGRO is a pioneer of sustainable, collaborative food production - a collection of buildings dedicated to the production and distribution of food and drink. It is anticipated that the Spondon site will create c4,500 new jobs and will be a dynamic environment for greener and more efficient food manufacturing businesses. The site is an incredible 155 acres, incorporating Hellofresh's flagship distribution centre.
The new Energy Centre is the heartbeat of the park and will attain low-carbon and cost-effective heating and cooling systems for those businesses on site. The system is centrally operated based on an ammonia refrigerant to supply each building with a hot and cold-water loop. It recycles heat from refrigeration plants and reuses it to heat water and buildings. It is the first of its kind in the food industry.
I also had the opportunity to hear from Sir John Peace for the official launch of the Midlands Food White Paper. Sir John highlighted the impact of the Midlands Food System and the vital role it plays in the UK food supply chain.
