New manufacturing facility helps revive historic Derbyshire industrial site

12.38 acres of disused industrial land within the Erewash Valley will see the restoration of a proud manufacturing heritage with planning permission granted for a 248,847 sqft manufacturing facility and UK headquarters for internationally renowned render manufacturer, Fassa Bortolo.

Stephen George + Partners (SGP) has secured planning permission for the new facility on Verdant Regeneration’s New Stanton Park, the 194.58 acre site of the former Stanton Ironworks, which was an important driver in the industrial revolution and during both World Wars, but fell into decline and officially closed in 2007. SGP masterplanned the site, as well as securing outline planning permission and has already designed and delivered several units in plot 1.

Explains Luke Abbott, Partner at SGP: “This is the first UK based render manufacturing plant for Fassa Bortolo. We were able to draw on their deep understanding of their process, developed over many decades and delivered in over 20 facilities across the world. We adapted the design to the demands and requirements of this site, focusing on ensuring operational efficiency, brand representation and design quality. The architecture and layout maximised the efficiency of the process with smooth workflows through and traffic movements around the buildings. We matched this with a visual design that took the unmistakable massing of the structures and created a positive landmark that was respectful to its surroundings.”

Using process engineering information, the AJ100 practice applied in-house clash detection systems when designing the building envelope to inform the design and lay the foundations for a smooth construction phase.

The planning permission includes a warehouse, two storage facilities, an incoming materials reception, milling and mixing towers, ancillary offices, car and HGV parking, landscaping, access and associated infrastructure. The factory will comprise of a four-line production facility where raw material (limestone quarried in Derbyshire’s Peak District) is processed into powdered render used in the construction industry as an applied finish to building envelopes.

As the facility is visible from key static viewpoints as well as from the M1, SGP’s elevation strategy focused on colour, pattern and detail to form a unique and distinctive landmark building, giving New Stanton Park an architecturally enhanced anchor. SGP chose a refined and muted palette as the most architecturally appropriate for the context, leading to a monochromatic scheme where the white and light grey cladding is predominant, with anthracite and black accents on the processing towers, including the 60m mixing tower which overtops the facility.

As the public-facing element of the site, being both the UK head office and a dedicated training environment for Fassa Bortolo approved installers, SGP’s design for the Training Centre embodies a contemporary and professional appearance. With a focus on function above decoration or adornment, the clean architectural lines, a refined material palette, and a well-proportioned form reflects the wider industrial context while presenting a building of civic quality and presence.

The landscaping for the site concentrates on the reinforcement and enhancement of the eastern boundary with the Erewash Canal. Photovoltaic panels will be installed to generate on-site renewable electricity and reduce the building’s carbon footprint.

Concludes Luke: “SGP is acting as both CDM Principal Designer and Building Regulations Principal Designer (BRPD) for the project. We are proud to have partnered with Fassa Bortolo to bring their first UK facility to fruition. The Verdant Regeneration company directors have already developed over 40 acres of land adjacent to the site and we look forward to working with Verdant Regeneration to continue restoring New Stanton Park as an industrial hub, providing real socio-economic benefits to the area.”

New Stanton Park offers build-to-suit industrial/warehouse units from 20,000 sqft to 1,000,000 sqft and is ideally located from both a transport and employment perspective, with good access to the strategic road network, particularly the M1 motorway. The site also has its own link to the Midland Main Line railway line, power upgraded to 36 MvA and the potential for up to 28m eaves height.