A Norwich-based factory could be set for a new lease of life after it was revealed that three offers were on the table to buy the former Uniglaze 2 site.

More than 270 jobs were lost from the New Costessey double-glazing plant when Uniglaze collapsed into administration last year.

But the EDP can now reveal that a deal to buy the 154,000 sq ft factory and its facilities could be brokered as early as today, bringing fresh hopes that Norfolk is on course for a major jobs boost.

Although the details of the bids remain unclear, sources close to the prospective buyers said two of the offers would take the site in a completely different direction.

The news follows the announcement earlier this year that the former Uniglaze plant in Thetford had been snapped up by engineering-firm Warren Services when it negotiated a £1m deal with administrators KPMG.

Will Jones, a partner at commercial property specialists Bidwells, which is helping to broker the deal, said: 'I have got three offers on the table and it is currently with the administrators KPMG who are looking to see which one to accept.'

However, Mr Jones said it would still take a number of weeks before a contract was signed, even if an offer was accepted today.

The former Uniglaze 2 factory, next to the A47 at Longwater, has stood empty since the administrators wound up Uniglaze at the end of last year.

It comes after the double-glazing firm failed to mount a strong recovery when it was hit by a severe downturn in the UK construction sector and an insolvency of a key customer.

David Dukes, economic development manager at Norfolk County Council, said a deal for the site would provide a significant opportunity for new jobs in the county.

He said: 'It is an important significant building in a highly-prominent location, which is a key gateway to Norwich. I sincerely hope that it can live up to its potential. It provides a great deal of opportunity for the business that acquires it and I hope it can create a good number of jobs.'

Simon Wright, MP for Norwich South, said: 'It came as a shock to many of my constituents late last year when the closure of the factory was announced. It is good to hear that there is renewed interest in the site. It is an area where we would like to see a significant number of jobs and I hope the bids reflect that. We would like to see hundreds of jobs created there.'