LINGFIELD Point – dubbed the business gateway to the North-East – has been sold.

Property company Marchday recently announced the sale of the Darlington site, best known as the home of the nationally acclaimed Festival of Thrift.

Lingfield Point hosts thousands of workers based across a number of businesses including the Student Loans Company, AMEC and Capita.

Since taking over the former factory site, Marchday has worked to promote its eco-friendly credentials, sustainability and good transport links.

The Festival of Thrift attracted thousands of visitors when it was launched at Lingfield Point in 2013, with those returning for its 2014 event numbering more than 27,000.

Marchday’s director, John Orchard, was unavailable for comment but a spokeswoman for the company said full details of the sale would be announced within weeks.