LESS than a year after rebranding its Andover showroom, a car company has closed the base, blaming the volume of business on its demise.

Foray Motor Group has shut its Andover Used Car Centre months after it was changed over from being Andover Ford dealership last year.

The site, in Weyhill Road, Andover, is now being offered for sale through Woolley and Wallis Commercial estate agents for £700,000.

It has been reported that the showroom “wasn’t making money” and company bosses decided to shut the doors.

In trade press, managing director Chris Yoxon said the volume of sales “were quite strong”, but the site was not making “a decent return”.

When approached by North Hampshire Business, Mr Yoxon declined to comment.

The group took on the centre after Ford reviewed its smaller sites and it was decided the base was not part of its future plans.

It is understood that no job losses will be made as a result of the closure, with staff redeployed to elsewhere in the group or have found positions elsewhere.

Mr Yoxon told trade press that this has been “a positive result”.

Foray Group’s former used car centre is described by Woolley and Wallis as a prominent car showroom premises with “the potential for re-development to residential”, subject to planning approval.

The facility measures approximately 3,900 sq ft on a site of 0.42 acres.

In its description of the property, which was constructed in 2000, Woolley and Wallis detail a facility which comprises of a detached car showroom including workshop and office accommodation.

It added: “There are approx 40 display spaces and a further 18 (approx) car parking spaces. The building is fitted out to a good standard with full height glazing to the showroom, tiled floors, suspended ceilings and central heating together with WC / cloakroom and kitchenette facilities.

“There are well specified galleried offices at first floor level.

“Subject to planning there may be scope to redevelop the site for residential.”

It is believed several approaches have been made for the site.

Despite the closure of the used car showroom, the accident repair centre and the service department, both on the Portway Industrial Estate, remain open, according to the group.