Greene King to sell homes
Greene King has confirmed plans to sell off homes on its former Hardys & Hanson Brewery site. The brewery, in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, is no longer in use and includes 19 cottages. At a public meeting, 16 tenants were told they would have to be out by next year.
Three of the tenancies were established before the 1988 Housing Act and those tenants will be allowed to stay.
The pubco, based in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, was obliged to give two months' notice, but extended the notice period until May 2008.
Greene King corporate property manager Richard Crewe-Read said: "Any purchaser of the site will be legally required to honour this commitment. It may be that tenancy agreements are extended beyond this time, but at least this way [tenants] have a year to consider their options and make plans."
A spokesman for Greene King said: "Since we bought Hardy & Hanson's last year, we have integrated 278 pubs into our network. It is with some regret that we are putting this site on the market, but it is simply not viable to continue brewing here.
"Some people looked round with a view to re-opening the brewery, but I think they came to a similar conclusion.
"Greene King has taken steps to safeguard the area and make sure the site will be developed sensitively, including an environmental assessment and liaison with local planners to ensure the historic buildings are converted properly."
The firm has moved its Nottinghamshire brewing operations to Bury St Edmunds.
Greene King bought the Kimberley-based brewery in a £270m deal in September 2006. The 30-acre site is for sale through Savills as a whole or in individual lots with planning: as such, there is no guide price.
