THE headquarters of a historic civil contracts specialist and builder in Howley has been sold off after the firm collapsed into liquidation.

Founded in 1898, Harry Fairclough Limited entered administration in February last year.

Around 150 employees, based out of the Howley Lane headquarters and the company’s West Yorkshire office, were made redundant as a result.

Administrators Smith and Williamson have now confirmed that the Warrington offices have been sold following a mix of conditional and unconditional offers.

The future of the 1.4-acre site, which occupies a prime waterside setting off Howley Lane fronting the River Mersey, is expected to generate additional housing.

Andy McGill, partner at Smith and Williamson and joint liquidator of Harry Fairclough Limited, said: “We were pleased to finalise the sale of the freehold premises at this challenging time, following a full marketing strategy in conjunction with Savills over the last 12 months.

“The sale achieved will ensure realisations available to the creditors of Harry Fairclough Limited will be maximised.”

Ned Brooks, associate at Savills which sold the site after a full marketing campaign, added: “This sale represents an exciting future for the site, and is one that we are very pleased to have been involved in.

“What the sale has indicated, and indeed underlines what we are seeing across the region, is that there is growing confidence in the market and that demand is incredibly strong for development land – notwithstanding the effect Covid-19 has had on the market.

“This demand, coupled with an expected increase in land values over the next 12 months and our longer term forecasts for mainstream house prices, paints a very positive outlook for the region’s future.”

A winding up order was made against Harry Fairclough Construction at Liverpool County Court on February 12, 2020.

Staff were informed of the company’s demise, which was blamed on ‘late and non-paying customers’, a week later.

At the time, the firm’s recent projects included a £1.5million lion enclosure at Chester Zoo, an extension to Blackpool Sixth Form College and work on the Aldham Robarts Library at Liverpool John Moores University.