A MYSTERY buyer with a background in housing development has bought Salthouse Mills for an undisclosed fee.

London auctioneers Barnard Marcus offered the 15.4 acre old paper mill site to potential buyers through an online website for a guide price totalling £6m.

A 6.5 acre piece of open land at Eccleriggs Avenue, Barrow, was also thrown into the deal.

Now the agent says a London buyer with a background in spacious housing has come forward to snap up the land in a private deal.

Chris Glenn, divisional managing director of Barnard Marcus, said: “My clients have now acquired the site.

“My client is discreet and is an ethical developer which is London based — they prefer not to be named at this moment.

“They have been involved in low-density residential developments before.

“It is something quite exciting. Some ideas will take some time to get through planning.”

Mr Glenn said the buyers were keen to work with local authorities to develop the site. He refused to reveal how much had been paid for it for confidentiality reasons. Council bosses say they are keen to work with any new owners though they have not heard about a deal.

Posted: 10|26|06 at 3:44 pm. Filed under: UK News.