AFTER many months of lying empty, the former Syngenta site in Fernhurst could finally be revamped as a state-of-the-art business village.

Fernhurst Business Village Ltd has revealed plans to convert the existing buildings into "the finest green business community in the country".

Midhurst-based businessman James Gold is currently in negotiations with Syngenta to purchase the property.

If successful, Mr Gold intends to convert the office and conference complex at Highfield and Bridgelands into a thriving business community.

He plans to continue to use the 10-acre site adjoining Verdley Place to provide 250,000 sq ft of office, workshops and conference facilities. The existing site can accommodate up to 700 staff, with 800 parking spaces.

However, instead of being the base for just one company, he hopes to attract a multitude of businesses, from start-ups to multi-nationals.

The remaining areas - Longfield, including Nicholson's the auctioneers, and the Home Farm Recreation Club - are not part of the negotiations.

Chairman of planning for Fernhurst Parish Council, Iain Brown, told The Herald that he thought this was good news.

"My first reaction is that, if it goes ahead, it sounds like excellent news," he said. "We would welcome the return of a vibrant business community to the site."

ICI and its various successors have occupied the site since 1946. Syngenta relocated to Guildford in December and the main complex has been empty ever since.

"ICI had a long history in Fernhurst; it was a blow when they left," said Mr Brown. "They were very good employers and generous in support of local businesses, so the whole community benefited."

Mr Brown said that the departure had a left a "vacuum".

It is rumoured that a number of companies have expressed interest in purchasing the site in recent months.

"I'm delighted there may be a successor, but I hope this isn't yet another red herring," said Mr Brown. "It is splendid news, and I look forward to hearing about it in greater detail."

Chichester district councillor for Fernhurst Andrew Moncrieff was also hesitant but happy.

"If the deal goes through then it's excellent news for Fernhurst," he said.

"Syngenta and Zeneca before them were both good for the village, but a multiplicity of smaller businesses would be more in tune with local needs."

Mr Moncrieff felt that the development would benefit the vitality and future development of Fernhurst.

A spokesman for Fernhurst Business Village Ltd told The Herald that the project would be good news for Haslemere as well.

"The local economy suffered a sharp downturn when ICI / Zeneca / Syngenta moved away from the area, leaving the largest office complex within Chichester district completely vacant," he said.

"Mr Gold's conversion to multiple occupancy will ensure this never happens again."

"There is also quite a shortage of decent office space in Haslemere and West Sussex, and what there is is pricey, so you have to be quite rich to take it," he added.

Rent-free periods will be available to all businesses in a bid to help kick start the project.

The village will benefit from the latest in modern technology, with wireless internet access and video conferencing providing a "virtual office".

Developers also hope to offer stabling and livery facilities at Bridgelands.

The spokesman explained that the intention was to make the business village as attractive to work in as possible.

"Mr Gold's interest is in integrating the business environment into the countryside," he said. "We are also interested in finding motorsport tenants to use the outside workshops."

The site was originally the home of ICI Plant Protection Division, later renamed ICI Agrochemicals, serving as its international headquarters.

When the pharmaceutical and agrochemical divisions split from ICI in the early 1990s, it became Zeneca Agrochemicals until it merged with Novartis at the end of 2000 to form Syngenta.

A spokesman for Syngenta confirmed that the company was in negotiations with Mr Gold, but added that they are "at an early stage".