Pride Park

Pride Park is a business park on the outskirts of the city centre of Derby, UK. The Busines park covers an Eighty Hectare site, of former industrial land between the River Derwent and the Railway lines.

History

The site was formerly part of the railway yards, and was derelict for many years. s thIt we original site of Derby’s railway manufacturing industry, but land here had also been used for gas and coke works, gravel abstraction and landfill. These uses left behind a cocktail of contaminants, including tars, phenols, heavy metal, ammonia and boron.Extensive redivelopment took place over 10 years to reclaim the site, including the building of a new access road to open the area up. Part of the site has been transformed into a nature reserve called "The Sanctuary", in conjunction with Derby City Council. [http://www.prideparksanctuary.com/background.html]

The Sanctuary

This 10 hectare site adjacent to Derby County F.C. stadium and the River Derwent was heavily contaminated from its former use as a Gas-works. the site had been designated a "Site of Interest for Nature Conservation" in the master plan by the council. Part of the site was used to encapsulate the contaminated material removed from other areas of the site, in a safe manner. The site is home to ground nesting birds and a plan was created to encrage these. the site is home to Skylark a bird that is considered signoficant under the UK Biodiversity action plan. (UK BAP). The Sanctuary is not an open access area but viewing points are provoded on the perimmeter for the public. [http://www.prideparksanctuary.com/findus.html]

Occupants

*A Park & Ride carpark for access to Derby city centre is located next to the Stadium.
*It is the home of Derby County's Pride Park Stadium.
* Internet bank Egg plc has its Headquaters on the Bussiness park
* The Busines Park also house a Holiday Inn express hotel.
* Several car dealerships
* The Sports goods retailer JJB has offices on the Park.

Expansion Plan

Derby county are proposing to expand facilities on offer around the football stadium with a £20 million development plan. [http://www.derbycounty-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=336236]

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/derby/in_pictures/360_panoramas/pride_park_stadium/index.shtml BBC web site] Photo gallery of the Football stadium