Landmark Telford factory sold for £1.8 million

The former Taws Printers site had been put up for sale earlier this year.

And today commercial property agents firm Andrew Dixon & Company has revealed that a buyer has been found.

The site in Telford is well-known to motorists as it faces onto the Trench Lock Interchange and provides a key entry point to the Hortonwood Industrial Estate.

But the factory has barely been used since its previous owners, Graphics and Print, entered administration in June last year.

Access platform specialist IAPS, which is currently based on the Hortonwood Industrial Estate, has bought the site.

It says it intends to move into it from its existing home nearby.

Nicholas Dixon, who handled the sale of the site, said the sale demonstrated the level of demand for similar buildings in the town.

He added it was another positive sign that the economy of both Telford and Shropshire was thriving.

He said: "This transaction demonstrates the strength of the industrial market in Telford.

"Further deals are in the pipeline, but much more stock is required.

"This is a very well appointed factory premises with an excellent, high-spec office content with expansion capability to the rear.

"My overseas based client was thrilled to achieve the price with such a quick turnaround."

Graphics & Print moved to the site in 2013 when it took over part of the sales ledger and a number of staff from another county business, Taws, which remains in operation, in a move designed to grow turnover past the £4.8 million mark.

However, the company hit trouble when it lost a major £1 million contract.

Around 40 people lost their jobs as the company collapsed.

IAPS Group was formed in early 2013 following a merger deal between Access Platform Sales Ltd (APS) and Independent Parts and Service Ltd (IPS), two UK-based companies which support owners and operators of powered access platforms.