Derbyshire welcomes inward investment alongside a thriving indigenous business base to make a significant contribution to our economy through job creation, innovation, research and development.
We have a range of opportunities from urban locations in our larger towns to rural sites in spectacular landscapes.
This combination of sites and locations is a real ‘game-changer’ that will lead to the continuing regeneration of Derbyshire.
Your enquiry is important to us, whether you are looking for your new commercial facility with easy access to transport networks, a residential site to support a growing community or a new high street location for your retail business, let us help match your requirement to the latest opportunities.
Get in touch to discuss your specific needs and join the growing number of companies and investors who are discovering Derbyshire.
Take advantage of…
…our connectivity
Derbyshire’s geographic location enables ease of logistics by road, rail and air with major sites available next to major arterial routes (M1, A50, A38) attracting key employers, such as at Markham Vale, Horizon 29 and Dove Valley Park.
The proximity of our sites to neighbouring cities – Manchester and Sheffield to the north, Derby and Nottingham to the south – is an important driver for businesses considering Derbyshire. The ability to combine an excellent quality of life with strong economic viability, for example in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales, is becoming an increasingly important factor.
Derbyshire is also part of the UK’s only inland Freeport, as part of the East Midlands Freeport. The East Midlands Intermodal Park in South Derbyshire, located adjacent to Toyota UK, will be a special economic zone with the potential to drive innovation and growth.
New Stanton Park, Erewash
Freeport East Midlands Intermodal Park
Graphite Business Park, Glossop, High Peak
…our vibrant communities
Spread across Derbyshire’s stunning landscape are many vibrant market towns, bringing local character and providing important hubs for residents and tourists as part of a thriving visitor economy which attracts 35 million tourist visitors each year.
Picturesque locations such as Bakewell, Buxton, Belper and Ashbourne are attracting interest from businesses looking to tap into new markets. In a post-Covid world, when UK high streets are re-inventing themselves, capital investors are exploring real estate opportunities such as in Swadlincote and Chesterfield.
To accommodate a growing population and local workforce, major residential and mixed-use sites are being brought forward – for example; Shipley Lakeside, Clowne Garden Village and Drakelow Park – maximising community spaces, green corridors and waterside environments.
Dronfield, North East Derbyshire
Buxton Crescent, High Peak
Matlock Spa, Derbyshire Dales
…our ambition
Derbyshire is home to world-class companies and a diverse and skilled workforce and we are ambitious to create an environment in which our people and our businesses thrive. The sympathetic and strategic restoration of our physical assets, re-purposing of our landscape and regeneration of key sites underpin the vision we have for our place.
Across Derbyshire, over £100m of Levelling Up, Stronger Towns funding and monies for Future High Street projects have been secured from central government towards strategic regeneration projects in places including Buxton, Clay Cross, Heanor and Long Eaton.
Where else can you consider the opportunities of former quarries, 18th century mills, airfields, power stations and reclaimed parklands? Derbyshire’s rich industrial past is being transformed into an exciting future.
Belper Mills, Amber Valley
Cromford Mills, Derbyshire Dales
Drakelow Park, South Derbyshire
Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering
Derbyshire is one of the UK’s strongest advanced manufacturing and engineering locations, anchored by global leaders such as JCB and Toyota.
With manufacturing accounting for 20% of all local employment – double the national average – the county offers unmatched depth in precision engineering, materials and high value production.
Derbyshire’s proud to be home to cutting edge R&D centres, including DRIIVe in Staveley for rail supply chain businesses, Chesterfield College’s Advance Manufacturing and Life Sciences Centre, both opening in 2026, and the Midlands Nuclear AMRC and Skills Academy for the county’s thriving nuclear Industry.
Opportunities range from strategic manufacturing parks to R&D‑led employment sites aligned with the East Midlands Investment Zone.
Key opportunities include:
- Dove Valley Park, Foston
- Sinfin Moor, South Derbyshire
- Ashbourne Business Park, Ashbourne
- New Stanton Park, Ilkeston
- Hartington Commerce Park, Staveley
- Hartington Business Park, Staveley
- Horizon 29, Bolsover
- Harpur Hill / Staden Lane, Buxton
Logistics & Distribution
Derbyshire sits at the heart of the UK’s transport network, giving logistics and distribution operators rapid access to national and international markets. With immediate links to the M1, A50 and A38, and close proximity to East Midlands Airport, the UK’s largest pure airfreight hub, the county offers outstanding connectivity by road, rail and air.
This connectivity has driven the growth of major distribution hubs along the M1 and A50 corridors, including Markham Vale and New Stanton Park. Global operators such as Great Bear, Alloga, The Co‑operative and Kuehne + Nagel already operate in the county, alongside 280 hectares of logistics space at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway, featuring a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange.
Derbyshire also benefits from the UK’s only inland Freeport, East Midlands Freeport,and the expansion of the East Midlands Intermodal Park strengthen the county’s role as a national logistics hub, offering scale‑ready sites for third‑party logistics, advanced manufacturing and ecommerce businesses looking to grow and consolidate.
Key opportunities include:
- East Midlands Intermodal Park, South Derbyshire
- New Stanton Park, Ilkeston
- Dove Valley Park, Foston
- Cinderhill, Denby
- Horizon 29, Bolsover
- Ashbourne Business Park, Ashbourne
- Markham Vale, NOVA, Chesterfield
- Markham Vale, ARK, Chesterfield
- Harpur Hill / Staden Lane, Buxton
- Chapel Business Park Chapel-en-le-Frith
- Wren Nest Road, Glossop
- Graphite Way, Hadfield
Mixed‑Use & Regeneration
Derbyshire presents a strong pipeline of mixed‑use and regeneration opportunities across the county, with sites suited to residential, commercial, leisure and community development.
Key locations are being brought forward for large‑scale housing, employment land, retail and public realm improvements, supported by established infrastructure and local demand.
Many of which have planning approvals in place, allowing early phases to progress at pace while retaining flexibility for developers to shape later stages, providing a clear route to delivery and the ability to respond to market needs over time.
Together, our portfolio offers investors the opportunity to deliver new communities, high‑quality commercial space and amenity‑led environments at scale.
Key opportunities include:
- Former Drakelow Power Station, South Derbyshire
- Swadlincote Town Centre
- Shipley Lakeside, Heanor/Ilkeston
- Cinderhill, Denby
- Belper North and East Mills
- Smedley’s Hydro, Matlock
- Riverside Works, Bakewell
- Bailey’s Square, Clay Cross
- The Avenue (Phase 3), Wingerworth
- Chesterfield Waterside
- Chesterfield Station Masterplan
- Spire Neighbourhood, Chesterfield
- Peak Resort, Chesterfield
- Futures Clowne, Bolsover
Tourism, Leisure & Heritage
Derbyshire offers a strong portfolio of tourism, leisure and heritage‑led development opportunities, centred on destinations such as the Peak District National Park, Chatsworth House, the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site and its historic market towns.
Sites including Shipley Lakeside, Smedley’s Hydro and Bakewell Riverside support high‑quality hotel, leisure, wellness, cultural and mixed‑use development, backed by strong visitor demand. PEAK Resort is a flagship leisure, health, sport and education destination set within 114 hectares of forestland along the Chesterfield and M1 corridor.
Many sites benefit from existing infrastructure, planning consents or active regeneration programmes, enabling phased delivery.
Together, these opportunities build on Derbyshire’s visitor appeal to create destination‑led experiences and heritage‑driven placemaking that support sustainable growth.
Key opportunities include:
- Belper North & East Mills
- Smedley’s Hydro, Matlock
- Riverside Works, Bakewell
- PEAK Resort, Chesterfield
- Chesterfield Town Centre
- The Springs Shopping Centre, Buxton
Clean technology
Derbyshire sits at the centre of the East Midlands’ move towards a cleaner, smarter industrial economy. The county has strong strengths in nuclear, hydrogen and advanced manufacturing, supported by close links between business and research through initiatives such as East Midlands Hydrogen and the Nuclear AMRC Midlands.
This ambition is backed by the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s growth strategy and the £160m East Midlands Investment Zone. The programme is designed to boost innovation, attract global investors and create high‑quality green jobs.
Strategic sites such as Sinfin Moor, next to Infinity Park Derby, are being developed for clean energy and nuclear R&D and supply‑chain activity.
Derbyshire’s established industrial base, skilled engineering workforce and strong research institutions create the right conditions for innovation. Businesses working in low‑carbon propulsion, hydrogen systems and advanced manufacturing benefit from devolved funding, targeted incentives and coordinated public‑sector support, making the county an ideal place to grow, scale and commercialise new technologies.
Key opportunities include:
- Sinfin Moor, South Derbyshire
- Hartington Commerce Park, Staveley
- Hartington Business Park, Staveley
- Explore Park, cross boundary Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire, Bolsover/Worksop
Investment Prospectus
The Derbyshire Investment Prospectus showcases our major regeneration sites and key developments to give investors, developers and end-users a flavour of the opportunities on offer.
