A former site in Chickerell is to be given a new lease of life and hoped to bring hundreds of jobs and investment to the area.

DJ Property has agreed terms to acquire the former Universal Engineering site on Cumberland Drive on the Granby Industrial Estate.

More than 40 people lost their jobs in August 2015 when the long-standing employer went into administration. A month prior a further 44 people lost their jobs and at the end of 2014 28 workers were made redundant.

Liquidators were appointed in 2016 and the property has been up to sale for almost two years.

Mickey Jones, chief executive of DJ Property, said: “At DJ Property it is important that we construct new buildings but also continue to invest in the development of existing commercial units on the Granby Industrial Estate.

"The former Universal Engineering site has been vacant for too long and now is the right time to invest in the site by redeveloping the area into large modern employment spaces.

"The property is highly visible from the main road which runs through the centre of Granby Industrial Estate and it has a large frontage and extensive car parking.

Mr Jones added: "It is always sad when a large business closes and people lose their jobs, however I see this acquisition as an exciting opportunity to develop the space into high-specification employment space.

"Chickerell is growing rapidly with new houses being created to the east and north of the town. New employment opportunities on Granby Industrial Estate will be very welcome to the local growing population."

The final end use of the space is yet to be decided, however, with more than 38,000 sq. ft. of employment space located in the centre of a thriving industrial estate, Mr Jones believes the opportunities are vast.

Martin Hamilton, strategic director for economic development, Dorset Councils Partnership said: “The Dorset Councils partnership is committed to supporting economic growth in our area through the Western Dorset Growth Strategy, and so it is difficult when local businesses close like the former Universal Engineering site in Chickerell.

"We are therefore pleased to see that the site has been acquired by a local business and look forward to working with the new owners and potential businesses that may eventually open on the site in due course, bringing potential jobs and investment to the area.”

In addition, ALDI will be opening their new Chickerell store at Link Park in September 2017, which is hoped greatly increase footfall in the Link Park area and Granby Industrial Estate.

The final parts of Link Park will be developed in 2018, bringing the total developed area to more than 10 acres and creating hundreds of jobs.