Acorn snaps up Kodak industrial site

  Acorn Developments has bought Kodak’s imaging chemicals production site at the Kirby Industrial Estate in Knowsley, east of Liverpool.   The 500,000 sq ft site is based on the East Lancashire Road, and the deal includes Kodak’s entire former production plant and equipment, and all the assets and liabilites that go with it   The site also includes 150,000 sq ft of warehousing space, a solvent and waste recovery plant, a toner plant and 10 acres of undeveloped land.   Chemical producer Eastman Chemical’s European technical sales support centre and silver manufacturer Ames Goldsmith’s production facility are also based on the site.   Acorn is going to relaunch the site as the Image Business Park, and has agreed a new 250-year ground lease of the site with Knowsley council.   Tom Nash, from Acorn Development, said: “We are considering a number of approaches from potential occupiers and are also in discussions over a possible joint venture for the estate as a whole.   “We have had a lot of help and support from the Council, keen to see reinvestment and job creation.”   King Sturge and Knight Frank acted for Kodak.   helen.roxburgh@egi.co.uk