BOMBARDIER Aerospace is set to buy the Nortel premises in CoAntrim.
The Canadian-owned aerospace giant is expected to pay over thePounds 5m asking price for the Monkstown site in the biggestindustrial property deal of the last five years.
The premises, which was opened in 1962, is seven miles fromBelfast city centre and close to FG Wilson, Schlumberger and RTUConcrete Works.
Selling agents BTW Shiells yesterday confirmed the sale had beenagreed. It was negotiated by Stuart Draffin and Douglas Wheeler onbehalf of Nortel administrators Ernst & Young.
'We received a high level of interest and active bidding frompotential owner occupiers and speculators across Ireland andoverseas,' Stuart Draffin from BTW Shiells said.
'The level of interest is encouraging for the manufacturingsector in Northern Ireland and a testimony to the quality of thefacility and the work force in the immediate area.'
Douglas Wheeler of BTW Shiells said the sale demonstrates demandfor such premises.
'We are pleased the building is being put back into immediateactive use as this is one of the largest remaining industrialfacilities and is the largest industrial or distribution sale inNorthern Ireland since 2007.
'The level of interest demonstrates there are still a number ofcredible end users actively seeking premises in the province.'
A Bombardier spokesman said: 'Bombardier has signed an agreementto acquire the former Nortel facility at Doagh Road, Newtownabbey.
'The premises comprise a total area of 430,000sq ft and include amodern factory as well as support services.
'When the purchase transaction is complete, we envisage theacquisition will enable us to consolidate some parts of our businessin one location, notably our customer services, engine nacelles, andsome other manufacturing operations and offices, which are currentlysituated at a number of premises, some leased or rented, mainly inthe Queen's Island, Belfast area.'
The spokesman said the move was 'good news' for staff.
'It will help to consolidate some operations on one site from anumber of smaller facilities but it also gives us room for expansionin line with our strategy,' he said.
If the deal goes ahead it's expected that some 600 staff willwork at the Doagh Road site, which includes a manufacturing/distribution centre, offices, a sports centre and playing fields.
The Bombardier spokesman said there would be no job losses aspart of the move.
Failed telecoms equipment company Nortel filed for bankruptcyprotection in 2009.
At one point 2,000 people were employed at the Doagh Rd site.
2,000
The number of people employed by Nortel in the heyday of the site
