JLR granted approval for massive new logistics centre

Jaguar Land Rover has been given planning permission for the further expansion at its factory in Solihull.

The company is planning to develop a 300,000 sq ft (91,800 sqm) logistics facility and car park on land close to its Lode Lane site.

The new Logistics Operations Centre (LOC), planned for land adjacent to and including Damson Parkway, will create more than 1,600 new jobs at the firm and improve the supply of components to the main Land Rover production operation.

In total, the new centre will support a workforce of 2,450 employees, of which 1,634 will be new employees. The remaining 816 staff will relocate from the Lode Lane site.

Consent for the scheme was given by Solihull Borough Council’s planning committee, despite concerns over the loss of greenbelt.

However, the plans will be referred to the Homes and Local Communities Secretary to determine whether the scheme is acceptable on greenbelt grounds.

The council said despite the site’s location there were exceptional circumstances to justify approval.

Its Draft Local Plan states: “Jaguar Land Rover is a major international business and one of the largest employers in the West Midlands, whose continued growth and success are of vital importance to the local and regional economy, and to the aspirations in the UK Central Masterplan.

“Failure to provide for future growth and expansion would put the company at a competitive disadvantage with its motor manufacturing rivals and jeopardise the significant potential for new employment.”

The proposals even won the support of one of the council’s Green councillors.

Cllr Stephen Holt said he would not normally condone the loss of greenbelt land but under the circumstances the proposals were acceptable because of the long-term benefits associated with the continued growth of JLR, especially because of the jobs which could be created.

Approval was granted by a majority of seven votes to two.

JLR said it required the LOC to “improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its existing logistics network”, support the Solihull manufacturing plant and maintain global competitiveness.

It said that currently, the delivery of components was dispersed across the area surrounding Lode Lane and concentrating the supply from a single base would vastly improve the situation.

Robert Davies, a partner at Gerald Eve – JLR’s agent for the application – told the committee that JLR imported 13 million components a day into the factory to ensure that production was maintained.

Therefore the more efficient the operation could be, the better.