Wilsons Auctions has announced the acquisition of two auction facilities in the north and south of England, bringing its total national footprint to eight facilities on top of its additional seven logistical and storage compounds across the British Isles.

The auction group has purchased the former SMA Remarketing Newcastle centre from BCA for an undisclosed sum and the seven-acre Maidstone Auction Market in Kent from Lambert and Foster.

BCA purchased the SMA group in June 2015 for a reported £43 million and following concerns raised by the Competition and Markets Authority it was obliged to sell off the Newcastle operation.

Wilsons Auctions Group operations director Peter Johnston said: “The location, premises and staff in Newcastle, will be an excellent complement to our future plans for the region and will enable us to build on the business already retained by the site.

“We have many existing contracts that we currently service in both the Newcastle and Maidstone areas, and these new acquisitions will enable us to strengthen our offering and reduce existing logistics costs."