The huge Gateway computer plant at Clonshaugh in north Dublin is to be offered for sale by private treaty following the decision to close it with a loss of 900 jobs.

Tim Scannell of Lambert Smith Hampton is quoting £19.8 million (€25.14m) for the 330,000 sq ft facility which fronts on to the M1 motorway between the city and Dublin Airport.

It is the largest industrial complex to come on the market since the former 250,000 sq ft Motorola plant and about 18 acres in Swords were sold three years ago for around £10 million (€15.24m).

The agents say the plant, which stands on 18.3 acres, is likely to be of interest to occupiers, developers and investors.

However, with a slowdown on the way in the industrial sector, just like other elements of the commercial market, investors may be reluctant to pitch for the plant unless they have tenants lined up for at least part of it.

Whoever buys the complex will have to secure the approval of the IDA, which holds a ground lease on the property.

The location of the plant near the junction of the M1 and the M50 is a strong selling point.

Just over half of the 330,000 sq ft is currently in offices. There is also about 110,000 sq ft in the main production area, 36,000 sq ft in warehousing and 5,400 sq ft in a detached retail outlet.

The selling agents will obviously be targeting a number of developers who have done exceptionally well out of the property boom over the past eight years.

If it is bought by one of these, the building is likely to be subdivided and let as warehousing and offices. There is also scope to expand the facility or redevelop part of the site.

While the global difficulties facing the high tech industry will make it extremely difficult to attract an IT company, interest may well come from a number of pharmaceutical companies who want to centralise their operations under one roof.