The freehold site has been sold for an undisclosed sum to Fresca Group Limited, who have announced the move by Thanet Earth into the production of leafy salads. The new venture, which will trade as Thanet Earth Lettuce, is set up to produce lettuce under glass for 12 months of the year in a deep flow, hydroponic system.

The 8.22 acre site, which is located to the south of Chichester, comprises 26,829 sq. metres of glasshouses.

Steve Baluchi and Philip Armstrong of specialist business advisory firm FRP were appointed as joint administrators of the companies on 11th April 2023.

Steve Baluchi, commenting on the completion of the sale, says: “Leythorne Nurseries has served a number of the UK’s leading supermarkets, and following its acquisition by Fresca, it provides an opportunity for the site to provide a thriving business that drives value for the local community as well as further afield.”

Ian Simpson, director in the leisure and trade-related team at Savills, adds: “We are delighted to have concluded this sale on behalf of our client. A good level of interest was generated in the availability of these two modern glasshouses, and we wish Fresca all the best for the future in their new premises.”