£40m Jaguar Land Rover storage facility given the go-ahead

Proposals to create a 52-acre vehicle distribution compound in Staffordshire for Jaguar Land Rover have received the go-ahead from planners.

The proposed £40m facility, on land at Stone Business Park, will create up to 90 jobs and provide secure storage facilities for around 6,500 new vehicles. It is also hoped to act as a catalyst to inward investment.

Birmingham-based Stoford Developments, which is delivering the unit, has said construction could start on site in March.

The company had submitted a planning application was submitted to Stafford Borough Council following two days of public consultations. Consent was then secured at a meeting of the local authority’s planning committee.

Stoford director Tony Nash said: “We are very pleased that our planning application has been successful.

“It is clear this development will bring significant inward investment into the county and will represent a major commitment to the region by one of the world’s leading luxury car makers.

“The 52-acre site will primarily act as a new vehicle distribution compound accommodating approximately 6,500 vehicles. It will provide a high quality national delivery hub in a central location with excellent links to the motorway network. A highly secure site, it will also be very well landscaped to limit the impact on the surrounding area as much as possible.”

He added that as a result of concerns expressed by some local residents during the planning committee meeting, Stoford would be including further screening of the facility.

The storage facility will be JLR’s second major development in Staffordshire. The county is also home to its £1bn Engine Manufacturing Centre at i54.