A FORMER Lye manufacturing site has been snapped up for £500,000 by a Black Country based bespoke furniture maker.

Stourbridge commercial property surveyors, Hexagon Commercial Property, have sold 39-41 Valley Road to expanding Brierley Hill business Pipe Dream which creates bespoke pieces of furniture from pipe fittings.

Previously used for manufacturing and associated admin offices, the building is to be refurbished and let out as part of the company’s expansion plan and growth of other divisions including Pipe Dream Fittings, Pipe Dream Furniture and Pipe Dream Forestry.

Stewart Millward, director of Pipe Dream, said “Our HQ is based in Brierley Hill and as part of our expansion plan we were looking for additional space. "Having dealt with Harvey and Hexagon previously and being impressed by his market knowledge, we asked him if there was anything suitable locally, to meet our requirements.

"We decided to purchase 39-41 Valley Road because of its large yard space and development/growth opportunities, which fit perfectly with our intention to grow our other divisions."

The 7,135 sq ft secure complex has a gated courtyard, three warehouses and a detached office block over two floors and the refurbishment will include installation of LED lighting, toilet and kitchen facilities.

Harvey Pearson, director at Hexagon Commercial Property, said “Having received significant interest in the property we are delighted to have finalised the sale to Stewart and James which helps kickstart their investment portfolio. We are still experiencing very high levels of demand for freehold property and this sale further demonstrates the strength of the industrial market."

The Pipe Dream Group, headquartered in Talbots Lane, Brierley Hill, employs 30 local workers including offering opportunities for apprentices and the long-term unemployed.

It was created by Stewart Millward and James Boran in 2017 when they launched Pipe Dream Fittings, a multi-metal pipe and pipe fittings supplier.

Their passion for pipes led them to create their own office furniture from all sorts of pipe fittings and after many requests for similar products they realised there was a market for their unique creations so they decided to set up Pipe Dream Furniture.

Later in 2017 a bespoke industrial and rustic furniture arm of the business was launched and earlier this year they have expanded further to create custom-made garden and other outdoor furniture.