CB Richard Ellis, a Los Angeles-based company acting on behalf of the major brewery group, Fuller Smith & Turner plc, has acquired a two-acre site in the village from Star Energy and two private vendors for the construction of a new distribution depot.

The site on Dell Piece East will allow a distribution and office facility to be built on the edge of the village, close to the A3(M) junction, cutting out lorry movements through the village centre.

Construction is likely to begin soon, with staff transferring to the new site early in 2009.

Nigel Atkinson, director at Fuller's and former managing director of Gale's Brewery, said: 'This acquisition was an important element of our strategy to retain a distribution centre within Horndean, whilst allowing the company's distribution network across the region to be improved and at the same time removing an obstacle to the successful redevelopment of Horndean village centre'.