Former tank factory acquired by housebuilder

A former tank factory in Leeds is set to be redeveloped for housing following its sale.Gent Visick has negotiated the sale of the 45-acre site at Crossgates, known as Radial Park, for an undisclosed sum to Strata, on behalf of Columbia Threadneedle Investments. The property consultancy also advised the global asset manager when it originally acquired the site in 2001 from Vickers Defence Systems, and has since secured a range of lettings at Radial Park. Tenants have included Royal Mail, ITV, a car retailer, and West Yorkshire Police, which used it as a firearms and dog training centre. Gent Visick also project managed the planning process at Radial Park and previously advised on the sale of 12 acres to housebuilder Bellway, which has already developed the Western side the site. Demolition of 300,000 sq ft factory is currently underway.Vickers Defence Systems manufactured both Challenger 1 and Challenger 2 tanks on the site until the 1990s and prior to that it was used to produce munitions and heavy armoured vehicles including the Centurion and Chieftain.