Former Wells garage in Ringwood sold for first time in 100 years

Family-run Wells vehicle garage, near the A338 in Ringwood, has been sold to a property investment company.

It is the first time since 1928 that the ownership of the site has changed.

D R Smith Properties plans to repurpose the site into a new vehicle showroom and consultancy firm Vail Williams "categorically" pledging there are no plans for homes.

The vacant Wells vehicle garage site, just off the A338 (Image: Ron Wain of digital content specialist Deep South Media)

Located close to the A31 and just off the A338, the Wells Garage is an important historical site in Ringwood.

The directors of D R Smith Properties ideally did not want to see it demolished. D R Smith Properties is a family business, headquartered in Ringwood.

It manages various commercial units, industrial yards, residential properties and holiday lodges in Hampshire, Dorset and London.

A picture of the garage in 1930 (Image: Supplied)

Wells Garage is found between Salisbury Road, Linbrook Court and Northfield Road.

Interestingly, 1928, the year the garage last changed hands, also marked Alexander Fleming's accidental discovery of penicillin, the world's first colour TV transmission in Glasgow, and the opening of the Tyne Bridge.

The site has been acquired by D R Smith Properties (Image: Supplied)

Ben Duly, an associate for Vail Williams, working out of the Bournemouth office, said: "There are categorically no plans for housing development. D R Smith Properties, who we act for, are committed to keeping the site for employment and have significant inward investment planned.

"The intention is to modernise the site, subject to planning permission, into a new vehicle showroom or similar.

"This is a speculative scheme as no tenant has been secured yet – the process of sourcing an occupier begins in earnest and we anticipate keen interest, given the prominent roadside location linking key commuter routes between Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire."