Jaguar Land Rover £500 Million Expansion Approved

Coventry jobs boost as Jaguar Land Rover £500 million expansion approved

Posted on January 18, 2016 by admin-flc in News, Property news

Employment prospects in Coventry were boosted with the announcement of over 6000 new Coventry jobs with the approval of Jaguar Land Rover’s £500 million expansion for the area around Whitley in South Coventry. JLR’s immediate plans will see them take up 30-acres of a 60-acre site south of the A45 – next to Coventry Airport. The move comes as the firm strives to establish Whitley as the company’s global research and design ‘brains’.

The announcement comes after months of detailed negotiations between Coventry City Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Jaguar Land Rover. The LEP is bidding for a government grant of £40m to build the infrastructure needed to support the expansion – including a new bridge across the A45 to link both sites. The development could also lead to the creation of 30 acres of open woodland and countryside walks between the Lunt Fort, Baginton and the new campus.

This follows and is in addition to the £10m worth of government funding for road improvements around Whitley that led to the company announcing £300m expansion plans last year.

Cllr Ann Lucas, leader of Coventry City Council, said: “This is a game changer for the city. This will further cement Coventry’s role at the heart of automotive innovation, growth and success.

“Our two world class universities, our can-do attitude and our ability to work with the private sector to deliver what successful manufacturers need if they are to stay and expand here have all played their part in convincing Jaguar Land Rover that Coventry is the right place to be at the heart of their expansion plans.

“Jaguar Land Rover – one of Britain’s greatest success stories – is putting its faith in this city to deliver its future and we will not let them down.

“I am so proud of the hard work that’s gone into making this deal happen from a range of people including senior officers at the Council, the LEP and Lord Bhattarcharya – who is such a champion of Coventry and who has done so much for this city already.”

LEP chairman Jonathan Browning said: “It is hard to over-state the importance of this announcement.

“Just last year, Jaguar Land Rover doubled the size of its land around its world HQ at Whitley, and this, in turn, is another doubling in size.”

The LEP is bidding for a government grant of £40m to build infrastructure, including a bridge across the A45 linking both sites.

JLR will carry out a public consultation on the scheme between 21 and 23 January and residents can also have their say after the planning application is submitted.

If permission is granted, work is likely to get under way by the end of 2016.

This boost to Coventry jobs makes very welcome news. If you are considering moving to the area and want to to know more about the property market please get in touch with our Coventry office on 02476 592929 or submit our contact us form for further information.