Buyer needed for 49-acre complex on business park

Jun 11 2008 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

AGENTS have been instructed to dispose of a former bio-diesel complex in Wirral International Business Park.

D1 Oils has instructed King Sturge to find a buyer for the site, which covers an area of 49 acres.

The company announced the closure of the facility in April, saying cheap US imports meant its operation was no longer viable. Around 40 jobs have been lost.

The property, in Dock Road South, is available on a part freehold/part long leasehold basis and has 158,000 sq ft of useable built accommodation, including production facilities, warehousing, laboratories, and office and staff amenities.

The site also boasts a significant amount of good quality in-situ plant and equipment which can be adapted for a number of related manufacturing purposes.

Since being built in the 1950s, the complex was a former Lubrizol “heavy lubes” site, which was later acquired by D1 Oils in January, 2007, for production of bio-diesel.

Market factors, including rising production costs and pressure from cheap imports, now mean it is uneconomic to produce bio fuel in the UK. D1 Oils is currently decommissioning the processing plant and equipment, and will now concentrate on developing the industry in other parts of the world.

Located three miles from Junction 5 of the M53, the complex provides an opportunity for a related manufacturing company to operate the site and utilise the significant amount of process plant and equipment.

Helen Moss, of King Sturge, said: “Since the closure announcement, the site has attracted a good level of interest from potential operators and developers who see the site as a good opportunity to further develop the well established, Wirral International Business Park.

“Whether bought by an operator or a property developer, the sale provides an opportunity to recreate employment at the site.”

tonymcdonough