PART of the former Hotpoint factory in Bodelwyddan has been put on the market 18 months after being purchased by the Welsh Government.

Independent commercial property consultant, Legat Owen, has been instructed by the Welsh Government to market a section of the site at Kinmel Park in Bodelwyddan, for £2.25m.

The 158,398 sq.ft. property comprises a detached manufacturing / distribution unit on a site of 8.24 acres and the building has an eaves height of eight metres and benefits from both drive in and dock level loading protected by way of substantial canopies.

The whole 25 acre site includes the 354,000 sq ft factory, a loading bay, canteen and a 7 acre HGV trailer park and was bought for £1.55m last April.

The front section of the site has been sold to Reflex & Allen who are in the process of re-locating from a smaller facility nearby in Bodelwyddan.

Speaking about the instruction, Stephen Wade, director of Legat Owen, sole agents for the scheme, said: “Kinmel Park is suitable for logistic companies looking to service the A55 corridor and the Anglo/Irish route through Holyhead and, as the scheme was previously occupied by Hotpoint, is suitable for manufacturing use.

"Bodelwyddan is situated in a Tier 1 Assisted area and qualifying companies may be eligible for financial support through the Welsh Government.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to acquire an attractively-priced freehold manufacturing/logistics facility in a strategic location in North Wales.”

The Hotpoint factory was built in the early 1980s and at its peak in 2004 employed 750 people.

The plant closed in 2009 with the loss of 300 jobs.

Despite being on the market for several years it has remained empty since, apart from temporary occupation by Mainetti when its Flintshire premises were destroyed by fire.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We purchased the former Hotpoint Factory at Bodelwyddan with a view to restore it to economic use to create or safeguard jobs locally.

"The front of the factory is pre-sold to Reflex & Allen, which is in the process of re-locating from a smaller facility nearby with the intention of doubling its turnover and creating 35 new jobs.

"The rear section of the site is being marketed on our behalf by Legat Owen.”