The Carlsberg group is said to be selling its former Tetley Brewery site in Leeds for £35m.

The brewery had been closed in 2011 and was later demolished to construct a car park. The 22-acre site is located at former industrial heartland of South Bank.

The Yorkshire Post quoted an unnamed Carlsberg UK spokesman as saying: "Regardless of any future sale and redevelopment of the site, it is our intention to retain an existing operation in the local area. We hope to be able to announce the successful purchaser prior to the end of 2015.

"Five years on, we have commenced a process to select a purchaser for the site who will be able to take forward the site’s redevelopment. We recognise the potential of the site and its important location within the Leeds South Bank area."

Reportedly, the proposed sale has attracted interest from 11 bidders including Leeds City Council, Asda and Ikea along with a few property developers and investors. The bidders will have to submit their bids by 21 July 2015.

The spokesman further said that the company wanted to avoid leaving the site unused after the brewery was shut down and introduced some temporary uses such as The Tetley, some green recreational space and opening up pedestrian and cycle routes.

The company made the announcement as Leeds City Council is considering transforming the South Bank into a community comprising family-friendly homes, open spaces and transport connections that would link the area to the new train station for HS2, the high-speed rail link between London and the North of England.