Part of a site owned by a troubled engineering company which laid off nearly 400 staff last year could be transformed into a business park.

The 2.25 acre site which belonged to Federal Mogul, the giant American-owned car parts manufacturer, has been bought by Lancashire-based Northern Trust Group.

Around 380 jobs were lost at Federal Mogul when the company, which is in administration, closed its piston manufacturing plant at the site in Neville Road, West Bowling.

Now the Northern Trust Group has unveiled plans for 14 workshop/trade counter units which it wants to build on the site, subject to approval from planning chiefs.

The site will provide a range of flexible industrial units for local firms and national businesses looking to relocate to Bradford.

The Rowan Trade Park will be developed by Northern Trust subsidiary, Delma Developments, with help from the local investment agency, Invest in Bradford.

The deal increases Northern Trust Group's Yorkshire portfolio to 630,000 sq ft and, nationally, the Chorley-based firm owns eight million sq ft of industrial property.

Philip Mayall, development surveyor at Northern Trust, said the site was ideal due to its proximity to the motorway network. "The acquisition of the site at Neville Road, Bradford and the future development of Rowan Trade Park adds weight to Northern Trust's growing commercial property portfolio," he said.

"Work will commence as soon as planning permission has been obtained."

A spokesman for Federal Mogul confirmed the company had sold a "small piece of land" at its Neville Road site. The company still employs 130 people at its pins plant on the site and more than 500 people in Legrams Lane.

The sale is the latest boost for the Bowling industrial area which had been blighted by heavy job losses in recent years.

As well as the Federal Mogul redundancies, manufacturing firm T&D Packaging also shut down with the loss of more than 100 jobs. Much of its site has now been bought by fast-growing bath manufacturer Clearwater Collection and the PM Group.

Bradford Council's executive member for regeneration and housing, Councillor Simon Cooke welcomed news of the sale. "Rowan Trade Park is yet another major boost for Bradford and its people," he said.

"It is very encouraging that more businesses are locating to the district and further evidence of Invest in Bradford's success in regenerating the area."