The site of a print house associated with a former Craigavon-based newspaper company has hit the market, with a whopping £2.9 million asking price.
The property at 2 Esky Drive, Carn Industrial Estate, extends to almost 59,000 sq ft and is being offered for sale by private treaty through Savills.
The 5.03-acre site has a long association with Northern Ireland’s newspaper industry. Historical records show that a number of companies within the Johnston Press group had their registered offices at the Esky Drive address, including Morton Newspapers Ltd, Century Newspapers Ltd and Local Press Ltd.
Johnston Press’s 2016 annual report identified Morton Newspapers as a newspaper publisher and printer and listed the company among its Northern Ireland subsidiaries operating from 2 Esky Drive.
Morton Newspapers was incorporated in Northern Ireland in 1946 and had deep roots within the Portadown and Lurgan areas, while records show the Esky Drive address being used as a publishing and printing address for decades from the 1990s onwards.
Morton Newspapers built up a substantial portfolio of regional titles beginning with the Lurgan Mail in 1936, it later acquired the Portadown Times in 1949, and subsequently expanded into numerous other regional papers. It later became part of the Johnston Publishing empire.
That company was then acquired by National World which in turn was bought out by Republic of Ireland based Iconic Media.
According to the property listing, the standalone facility comprises approximately 32,305 sq ft of warehouse accommodation and 26,676 sq ft of offices, arranged over two floors.
The warehouse is divided into three interconnected units and includes three roller-shutter loading doors. Eaves heights range from approximately 6.1 metres to 7.5 metres, with apex heights reaching between 8 and 10 metres.
The building was originally constructed in 1997, before being extended in 2007.
The office accommodation includes a reception area, canteen, kitchenette facilities and toilets, while the property also benefits from a passenger lift, fire alarm, intruder alarm and CCTV.
Outside, the secure site provides 121 car parking spaces, a substantial tarmac yard and gated access. An on-site electrical substation is also listed among the property’s features.
Savills describes the property as a “high-profile manufacturing and logistics facility” and says it is being offered with vacant possession.
The premises is now listed with an asking price of £2,950,000 and according to Savills it is held under a long leasehold title from the Department for Economic Development for a term of 999 years from 22nd March 1995 at a “peppercorn rent” with no review.
