The Derriford Retail Park (also referred to as Derriford District Centre) is a retail and leisure hub development in Plymouth, Devon, UK.
ADC Kimberley, an infrastructure development company, was appointed by the Plymouth City Council through a competitive tender in 2019 to lead the development.
The planning consent for the project was granted in July 2022. Construction on the food-led retail centre commenced in June 2023 and the first store, an Aldi supermarket, was opened in October 2024, followed by Marks & Spencer (M&S) in November.
The project was completed in December 2024 and created more than 100 jobs.
The retail centre addresses the lack of food shopping options in northern Plymouth, as well as offering retail services to residents, employees, students and visitors in the area. Furthermore, it acts as a driver for the broader revitalisation and growth of the Derriford area.
Location of Derriford Retail Park
The Derriford Retail Park was developed within the Derriford Commercial Centre, strategically positioned at the heart of north Plymouth.
The Derriford Commercial Centre is a retail-led mixed-use development that includes offices, education facilities, residential components and medical/health-related facilities.
The retail centre was developed on the former Seaton Barracks Parade Ground site owned by Plymouth City Council.
The site is one of the last undeveloped plots within Plymouth International Medical & Technology Park. It was chosen as the preferred location for the retail centre in the Joint Local Plan adopted in March 2019 by Plymouth City Council.
The site can be easily accessed through public transport and can be reached by bicycle or on foot with the planned on-site enhancements.
Derriford Retail Park details
The Derriford Retail Park spans an area of 57,200ft² (5,314m²). It transformed the Seaton Barracks Parade Ground site into six retail units across two buildings.
The retail centre includes a 20,000ft² Aldi supermarket and a 14,000ft2 M&S Food Hall.
Other tenants at the retail centre include Pure Gym, an operator of gyms in the UK, and Pets Corner, a local pet shop.
The retail centre also includes a Costa Coffee drive-through and Oggy Oggy Pasty shop. It also comprises an array of ancillary commercial amenities including 12 new electric vehicle (EV) charging points.
Infrastructure details of Derriford Retail Park
The two buildings at the retail centre are divided by a new north-south public highway link road that integrates with the current road network. The new road enables a dedicated bus connection from the Tavistock Road/William Prance Road junction with Derriford Hospital via the Derriford Business Park.
The centre also introduces vital new infrastructure to facilitate further development in the area, including a new access road and gateway landscaping. In addition, it includes a new pedestrian and cycling route known as the Seaton Arc, which offers a connection from the hospital entrance and public transport interchange to the junction of Morlaix Drive with Brest Road.
The centre’s development aims to enhance biodiversity by achieving a net gain on-site, which is augmented by additional off-site mitigation strategies.
The retail park is supported by greener travel connections designed to limit reliance on cars, including dedicated cycle routes and straightforward pedestrian access to nearby bus stops.
Financing details
In October 2021, the Plymouth City Council approved forward funding of $22.6m (£17.86m) through the Property and Regeneration Fund to develop the retail centre.
Additional funding of £1.04m was approved by the council in May 2023 to close a financing gap faced by the project. The total funding by the council for the project is £18.9m.
Contractors involved
Stace, a construction and property consultancy based in the UK, was tasked with providing cost management services for the project.
Firstplan, a planning consultancy, prepared and submitted the planning application for the Derriford District Centre. The company also prepared the retail and town centre policy analysis to bolster the application.
The consultant team included several local companies including Hoare Lea and Airey & Coles.
Devon Contractors was appointed as the construction contractor for the project.
Progressive Systems was subcontracted by Devon Contractors to provide the complete roofing and cladding package, managing intricate logistics, customised detailing and a challenging project schedule.
Clifton Emery Design, working alongside Peter Brett Associates and Maze Consulting, was appointed by Plymouth City Council to carry out a feasibility study.
Gridserve installed the EV charging points at the retail centre.
DH Earthworks, a groundworks business; LTC Scaffolding, a specialist scaffolding contractor; Plym Bricklaying & Stonemasonry Contractors, a masonry contractor; Morgans of Usk, a steel building company; EFT Architectural Fabrications, a fabrication company; and Dudley’s Aluminium, an aluminium fabricator are some of the other contractors involved in the project.
