THE former Guernsey Brewery could be turned into apartments and offices. The prime property site at the bottom of Le Val des Terres belongs to CI Traders and its future is being looked at as the company launched a £51.3m. takeover bid for property development company ComProp.

The company stopped brewing there in 2002 and it has stood empty for 18 months.

‘We’ve got thoughts, but no plans, and we know it takes time but also that things will come forward with this merger,’ said CI Traders chief executive Martin Bralsford.

The company is keen to redevelop the site, rather than sell it, and should the takeover be accepted by ComProp shareholders it will allow CI Traders to utilise its expertise in the development sector.

In December 2002, owner Bucktrout confirmed that Guernsey Brewery had stopped brewing locally because it claimed there was a lack of consumer demand.

Bucktrout’s chief executive Phillip Cropley said then that there were no firm plans for the building’s future.

However, the brewery had already sought permission for a possible conversion to 20 flats and 20,000sq. ft of offices during a representation at a 2001 planning inquiry.

Younger drinkers were blamed for the fall in consumer demand for local ales as they were mainly lager drinkers who went for brand names.

The money needed to update the brewing plant and equipment was also a factor, as the company did not want to invest in a declining

market.