New owner reveals future of huge Darlington Cleveland Bridge factory

When the site closed, it was acquired by developers The Adhan Group, who said it planned to start an “extensive refurbishment” programme for the 30 acre site and split it into smaller sub-units to create an industrial park for businesses.

But the site was quickly sold on to Mohammed Asjad, who has a large number of business interests - many around the North West - and in October last year became the Managing Director of Darlington Investments, set up to work with the Cleveland Bridge administrators and now the owner of the site.

Read more: Looking back at Cleveland Bridge collapse

The Adhan Group's plan to divide the site made sense due to its sheer size, but Mr Asjad told The Northern Echo he may be closing in on a single buyer for the whole 395,000 sq ft.

"We have been in talks with quite a large employer in the area, a blue chip company, but we are also still exploring the idea of some smaller industrial users as well," he said.

"We're very pleased that we've got a big tenant in the background who have been  looking at it. They've been there two or three times on site visits. Obviously, we've also been talking to the smaller tenants as well, but ideally wanted to take on the larger employer.

The huge Cleveland Bridge site on Yarm Road (Image: Unknown)

"This particular company, who are seriously interested, have been toying with the idea of taking on two thirds of the site, but we are really trying to get them to possibly take all of it.

Mr Asjad said he had been working closely with Darlington Borough Council to find the best possible outcome

He admitted it was too early to say which way it might go, but said he hoped whichever plan proceeded "it would bring further employment to the area."

MP Peter Gibson told us: “A year on from the sad demise of Cleveland Bridge, following a very concerted effort by myself, Ben Houchen, Paul Howell and Darlington Borough Council, together with administrators and the unions to secure a future for Cleveland Bridge, including potential purchasers around the country, I am delighted at the news that a bluechip company could occupy this large, easily accessible site industrial site. This can only mean good things for future jobs and investment here in Darlington."

As negotiations have been going on, Darlington Council has been working behind the scenes to make sure the future use of the site brings as many employment opportunities as possible.

If the site is divided to form a new business park, which seems the most likely outcome given the economic pressure on investors, both Adhan Group and Darlington Investments believe around 20 tenants would be possible.

The factory was a huge employer (Image: Newsquest)

But the plans would also revolve around the future of the main building. It was the heart of Cleveland Bridge and was really fit for only that purpose. But after a large-scale auction of fixtures and fittings, much of the internal structures around the site were stripped out as part of the sale, so it is now an empty shell that could still be used for some tenants, leaving the storage and loading areas around the perimeter to be developed with smaller units.

The team at specialist business advisory firm FRP who were appointed as administrators  to help save the business are still working there now, making sure that every last step is carried out as they look to bring the administration to a formal close.

The original team of Joint Administrators Martyn Pullin, David Willis, and Iain Townsend were at the centre of every conversation and led the negotiations from Day One. FRP will be keen to be there until the final day to bring the whole tragic story to a close. 

The impact of Cleveland Bridge and the large-scale employment it brought may not return, but it could still be the place where careers can be built and entrepreneurs can start the sort of businesses that have underpinned our economy for generations.

Read next:

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• Deadline for rescue deal to be agreed
• First redundancies announced at Cleveland Bridge