THE LONG-TERM future of an industrial park employing hundreds of people was uncertain today after its sale to a house-builder.

Berkeley Homes (Eastern) has bought the 20-acre West Kent Cold Store site at Dunton Green, near Sevenoaks, from Centurion Properties.

The cold store site employs around 600 people. Its future has been in doubt for some time.

Business leaders want to keep an important industrial centre for employment, but its location close to prime residential areas has caused tensions.

Berkeley Homes says it will build on the cold storage business and “continue operations for the foreseeable future".

But in the longer term, it will “explore” other opportunities to regenerate the brownfield site and turn it into a mixed use scheme.

Berkeley says this would “incorporate employment generating uses, community facilities and a residential element".

“Any such regeneration will entail close consultation with the existing users of the site, local residents and adjacent businesses to ensure that any changes provide a positive enhancement to the environment and all stakeholders.”

In a statement, the builder added that building on previously developed land is in line with Government policy that calls for the protection of Green Belt and the modernisation and re-use of existing developed land.

“The investment reflects the company’s continuing commitment to the local economy and its aim to generate new employment opportunities and housing to meet local needs.”

Julian Rooth, the owner of Centurion Properties, was unavailable for comment.