UK: Grainger, the UK’s largest listed provider of private rental homes, has revealed plans for its first BTR development in Derby.
It is to be located on the former Debenhams site in the town and will be named The Condor in recognition of the city’s engineering excellence, celebrating the aircraft engine built by Rolls-Royce in Derby in 1918. It will be part of the Becketwell regeneration scheme.
The scheme is due for completion in spring 2023 and will feature 259 one- and two-bedroom apartments and 2,962 square feet of internal ground floor amenity space for residents, including a shared resident’s lounge and coworking space. There will also be 2,185 square feet of external rooftop space with a terrace overlooking a new public square.
Leesa Ingham, head of marketing at Grainger, said: “When naming a Grainger development, we take great care and effort to research the local area and understand the heritage of the site. We identified several themes for our first development in Derby, but loved the idea of ‘The Condor’, given its historic links to the city. We were delighted when Rolls-Royce kindly agreed to letting us use The Condor for the name. We look forward to drawing further inspiration from the engine in our designs as we head towards completion and launch of The Condor in 2023.”
A spokesperson for Rolls-Royce said: “The famous Condor engine was state-of-the-art technology in its day, and we’re delighted that it is still a source of inspiration today.”
Paul Morris, development director at St James Securities, which is developing the wider area, added: “We have always been committed to maintaining the heritage of the Becketwell area of Derby and are delighted that Grainger are recognising the city’s engineering excellence by naming the build to rent development after the iconic aero engine, which was built in Derby.”
