ONE of Otley’s few remaining industrial sites has been sold.

The former Ideal Standard factory, on Ilkley Road, closed after the multi-national company announced at the end of 2014 that it was ‘restructuring’.

Used to make plastic mouldings for bathrooms, the factory - which has 102,000 sq ft of warehousing, production and office space - had employed 74 people.

Now, after a couple of years of standing empty, the six acre plot has been purchased for an undisclosed sum by a developer with plans ‘to refurbish the site and bring it back into use’.

Commercial real estate agents Cushman & Wakefield advised Ideal Standard on the sale. Scott Morrison, from the Logistics and Industrial team, said: “This historic site proved to be a very interesting disposal and it is fantastic to draw this sale to an excellent conclusion for our client.

“We were inundated with strong interest in the property from very early in the process due to the limited industrial supply in Otley, which resulted in a strong sale price being achieved.

“It will be great to see this property being revitalised by the new owners into a useable condition, whilst securing a strong sale for our client.”

The Otley Neighbourhood Plan says that the site should be ‘safeguarded for business, general industrial and storage and distribution uses’.

Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon) said: “I welcome the news. This is a major employment site at the entrance to Otley.

“It has good road access (which will be even better after the completion of the East of Otley relief road in 2012) and has the potential to bring a significant number of local jobs. Sadly, the site had been allowed to fall into disrepair so it is good to know a developer is willing to invest in Otley.”

MP Alex Sobel (Lab, Leeds North West) said: “I am monitoring developments with this purchase and will seek a meeting with the new owners upon completion of the sale to ensure the site is used for the maximum benefit of the town.”

Otley Town Council Chair, Councillor Ray Georgeson, added: “We are glad to see some movement related to the site. We trust any developers coming forward take time to consult with the community and councillors and remain mindful of the ambitions for the site set out in the draft Neighbourhood Plan.”