Homes planned at former munitions and tank factory

A FORMER tank factory in Yorkshire which played a role in both world wars could become a major new homes development.

Leeds property consultancy Gent Visick has negotiated the sale of the 45-acre site at Cross Gates, known as Radial Park, for an undisclosed sum to Strata, on behalf of Columbia Threadneedle Investments.

Gent Visick also advised the global asset manager when it originally acquired the site in 2001 from Vickers Defence Systems, which used to manufacture both Challenger 1 and Challenger 2 tanks on the site until the 1990s.

Before that it was used to produce munitions and heavy armoured vehicles.

The infamous Barnbow factory explosion at the site killed 35 of the women who worked there in 1916.

Vehicles types including the Centurion and Chieftain were later produced there. Gent Visick has managed a planning process at Radial Park and previously advised on the sale of 12 acres to house builder Bellway, which has already developed the western side of the site.

Demolition of Radial Park’s 300,000 sq ft factory is under way. Rupert Visick, managing director at Gent Visick, said: “Radial Park is one of the region’s most famous industrial sites and as a company we have been intricately involved in every stage of its evolution, as we’ve worked towards unlocking its residential potential.”