Former Albert Looms car breakers sold to developer

The site was cleared a year ago after Albert Looms crushed its last car

A former Derby car breakers yard has been sold to a developer which plans to turn the site into a business park.

Albert Looms closed a year ago after more than a century of trading.

The seven-acre Spondon site has now been acquired for an undisclosed sum by Derby-based Ivygrove Developments Ltd, which hopes to build small and medium-sized industrial units on the site.

In a nod to its past life, Ivygrove said it will name the Megaloughton Lane site Looms Business Park.

Ray Kirk, former operations manager at Albert Looms who is currently writing a book on the site's history, said: "I'm happy the sale has now gone through.

"I'm very happy with where it's going as I wanted it to be another yard and not housing.

"And I'm even more happy that they're going to name is Looms Park, I think it's very fitting."

Ray Kirk is tracing the history of Albert Looms and the site it operated from

Albert Looms started trading in 1920, specialising in demolition work and dismantling railway rolling stock and had a direct rail link to Chaddesden Sidings from its yard.

It then began to dismantle cars in the early 1970s, in part due to the Dr Beeching cuts to the railways in the 1960s.

Ivygrove said it is compiling a planning application for the site which it will submit to Derby City Council.

Albert Looms traded from Megaloughton Lane for 104 years

The developer, which is currently working on city sites including Eagle Park in Alfreton Road and Merlin Park in Osmaston Road, said it hopes to build 20 units on the Albert Looms site which range in size from 2,000 to 20,000 sq ft.

If granted planning permission, Ivygrove intends to make units available to buy or lease by 2026.

Nick Blount of Ivygrove said the firm was "delighted" to secure a "prime" site through Innes England by offering the "comfort and certainty" that the sellers had wanted.

He said: "Employment land for small and medium-sized units is difficult to find, and it seems housing is being prioritised by developers whereby sites are more readily available."