TAYLOR Business Park has been sold for £19.2 million.

The deal will see Ribston take over the Croft site – which has a mix of industrial and office space across 284,773 sq ft – from Taylor Business Park Ltd.

Paul Taylor, managing director of Taylor Business Park, has responded to the sale.

He said: “We’re delighted that the buyers, Ribston, based in West Yorkshire have a similar hands on approach to ours and want to see the site sustain its high level of security and appearance that have been maintained since the 1960s.

"We’re sad to see it go but this is a new chapter for everyone now.

"We’ve created a new management company, Taylor Estates (Cheshire) Ltd, and we’ve already started looking at some interesting properties that are out there.

"It’s business as usual for us.

"The plan is to reinvest the funds into Warrington and the north west, sticking to industrial and commercial property and steering away from retail.

"The sale of this site and the price it has achieved just go to show how much investors recognise Warrington and Cheshire as a key part of the Northern Powerhouse and how it’s a logistical jewel in the crown of the north west with the convergence of so many major motorways and rail networks."

In November 2016, the site hailed a decision to amend the proposed HS2 railway line in a move, at the time, tipped to save 500 jobs.

Cushman & Wakefield acted on behalf of Ribston during the negotiations.

A Ribston spokesman said: "Having a material asset in Taylor Business Park consolidates our representation in the north west, where we own a number of properties on Trafford Park and also in Preston, Wigan, Bolton, Accrington and Stockport."