One of the units which formed part of the former Southernprint site in Poole has been sold.

The quoting price was £1.4m plus VAT.

Goadsby, acting on behalf of a private investor, carried out the transaction for 21 Factory Road on the Upton Industrial Estate.

The detached industrial/warehouse unit extends to approximately 39,845 sq ft.

The site area is 1.89 acres and the eaves height 5.65m.

Chris Wilson, Director, Goadsby, pictured left, said: “We received strong interest from a number of parties within days of the property being marketed and agreed a sale to an owner occupier quickly thereafter.

“Upton Industrial Estate is popular due to there being a high proportion of larger occupiers and its quick access onto the A35 dual carriageway.”

As reported on Dorset Biz News, the entire Southernprint site was due to be sold at an Acuitus auction last September.

The 4.5 acre site, which once printed some of the nation’s favourite magazines, comprised three substantial industrial units of nearly 115,000 sq ft of space with adjoining office accommodation.

However, the lot was withdrawn without explanation prior to auction.

Upton was Southernprint’s base for more than 20 years after the company moved from its original site in Branksome.

In its heyday more than 300 people worked for the printer including generations of the same family.

One of its claims to fame was the printing of the nationwide classified advertising magazine Exchange & Mart for 56 years from 1944 to 2000.

The weekly had 250 pages, including a 150pp motoring supplement, at its height and a circulation of more than 2m.

At the time, it was believed to be the longest-running print contract held by a UK printer.

Parent company Walstead acquired Southernprint from Newsquest Media Group, publisher of the Bournemouth Daily Echo and the Dorset Echo, in July 2009.

In November 2019, parent company Walstead announced the closure of the web offset site with the loss of 179 jobs, blaming declining magazine volumes.

• Goadsby, acting on behalf of Tidebank, has completed a second letting at Victoria Park, Portland.

The lease term was six years with a three year break option.

Victoria Park is a new development of five industrial/warehouse units.

Ben Duly, Goadsby Business Space, said: “We are delighted for Tidebank that we have completed another letting at Victoria Park.

“It is the second unit to be let and we have a third unit under offer.

“We have had strong interest in the last two remaining units.”