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Former Barretts Citroen and DS Automotives building in Westminster Road, Canterbury up for sale
12:25, 09 March 2024
The site of an abandoned car dealership is on the market months after it shut.
The Barretts Citroen and DS branch in Westminster Road, Canterbury, closed in September last year as bosses cut ties with the French car-makers after 20 years – a decision Barretts was “not happy about”.
Being marketed by Knight Frank’s commercial team, the lot is now up for grabs – though the estate agent will only offer a price upon application.
It benefits from two high-quality buildings, providing showroom and workshop accommodation on a large site of about 1.1 acres.
The larger of the two units recently occupied the Citroen brand and provides a well-presented showroom to the front capable of displaying approximately four vehicles alongside sales offices and a customer lounge.
At the back of the site are two large workshops which provide seven ramps in total.
Between the showroom and workshop is the parts department and office accommodation with further offices and staff facilities on the first floor.
The former DS unit is a smaller but similarly presented showroom whilst to the rear are two valeting areas.
The external areas can store up to 110 vehicles and are primed for vehicle display and storage purposes.
It is available immediately with the potential for a range of alternative uses subject to planning permissions being granted.
Those selling it are seeking unconditional offers for the long leasehold interest.
The property is held by virtue of three separate 99-year leases, each from varying dates in 1981 and therefore provides an unexpired period of 56 years.
The ground rent is reviewed every five years while passing rent is £23,750 per annum.
Managing director of the Barretts group, Paul Barrett, told KentOnline last year: “We have not renewed our contract with Citroen, so will no longer be providing sales or after-sale services.
“We have therefore taken the decision to close the business.
“It’s not a decision we are happy about.”
He would not be drawn further on reasons why the contract had not been renewed.
The businessman also hoped that he could find his staff – 21 in total - other positions within the company.
He added: “Regrettably, there will be a small number of redundancies.
“We would like to thank all our customers for the support they have given us over 20 odd years.
“They have been advised of where they can get their cars maintained.
“We have no plans for the site at the moment but we are looking for opportunities.”
The Canterbury Citroen branch previously had a building in Pound Lane before moving to its modern facility in 2013.
There are other dealers located in Ashford, Folkestone and Margate.
Barretts celebrated its 120th anniversary in Canterbury in 2022 and has showrooms for various makers including BMW, Honda, Jaguar and Land Rover across east Kent.
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