A major developer has bought the Imperial Tobacco site in Lenton, saying it will create hundreds of new jobs in the area.
The building on Thane Road has been purchased by Henry Boot Developments, just over 12 months after production ended at the factory.
Hundreds of jobs were lost after Imperial Tobacco made the decision to close, although a small number of people are still working on site decommissioning equipment.
Henry Boot is involved in several commercial developments across the midlands, including Markham Vale employment park in Derbyshire at Junction 29A of the M1.
Justin Sheldon, regional manager for the company, said: “Given its size, the site is capable of providing significant opportunities for Nottingham businesses, whether for expansion or for companies moving into the city, and it has the potential to generate hundreds of new jobs.
“Its proximity to the recently upgraded A453, the city centre, and improving links with the soon to be completed Beeston link road through the Boots site, makes this one of the best locations in the region. We will work closely with Nottingham City Council in bringing forward our proposals.”
Known as the Horizon factory, the 48-acre site opened in 1972 and at its peak produced 50 billion cigarettes a year.
But in 2014 Imperial Tobacco said it was winding down production there as part of a global cost-cutting programme.
The site is still sometimes referred to as ‘Players’ after the John Player & Sons company, a Nottingham tobacco manufacturing firm which was founded in 1877 and once employed thousands of people in the city. It became part of Imperial Tobacco in 1901 Century but retained Players name into the late 20th Century.
Ian King, Imperial Tobacco’s operations director for western Europe, added: “We’re proud of our Nottingham heritage, and our decision to end our manufacturing operations at the Horizon site was made with a heavy heart.
“It’s important to look forward however, and we’re delighted to have reached an agreement with Henry Boot Developments that ensures we leave a legacy which will continue to bring significant economic benefits to the city.”
Video: Historian Chris Matthews, speaking in May 2016, on the history of Players
Henry Boot said it is already in talks with “a number of potential occupiers” for the site.
The company’s last major project in Nottingham was the 2007 redevelopment of the former Co-op on Upper Parliament into a property known as the Axis, which iincludes Alea casino, as explained in <a href=”https://www.casinositesuk.com/”>casinositesuk.com</a>.
The deal also includes the distribution centre attached to the site, which has also closed.
