A brownfield site with planning consent as a waste transfer station and the potential to connect to the main Bath-London railway line has been snapped up a specialist contractor.
The 14.8-acre site, pictured, at Thingley Junction between Chippenham and Corsham was bought by Kent-based Ferns Group, which specialist in utilities, aggregates and recycling.
Agents Carter Jonas, which sold freehold site on behalf of a private client, said it believed it had been previously used by the Ministry of Defence.
It described it as well-positioned for the M4 near Chippenham as it could be accessed by the A4 from the north and the A350 from the south while it also included a railhead with the potential to connect its western boundary to the rail network.
Until now Ferns group has operated mainly in London, the South East and East Anglia through a network of 10 surfacing depots, and one aggregate quarry in Kent and a recycling plant in Essex.
Earlier this year it signed a major network services agreement with broadband provider Openreach to provide safety programmes, civil works and construction services across the South of England including Bristol, Wiltshire and Dorset.
Ferns Group manager Harry Fern said: “We are pleased to announce our continued expansion across the UK in line with our growth plans.
“We feel strongly that this site will help us develop further into the West and achieve growth by scaling operations and expanding our offering regionally to new business and be underpinned by our existing clients in this area.”
Carter Jonas partner, commercial, Alison Williams added: “Subject to further planning, this site presents an opportunity to bring forward opportunities for open storage and development for a variety of uses.
“Its appeal is heightened by proximity to the M4 and its convenient location, with road and potentially rail access.
“We are pleased to have secured a positive result for our client as well as effective and operational asset for the purchaser, Ferns Group.”
