Councillors approve Jaguar Land Rover’s latest expansion

COUNCILLORS have approved plans for the further expansion of Jaguar Land Rover’s Powertrain Development Facility.

The company is proposing the comprehensive development of land to the south of the its existing global headquarters at Whitley, near Coventry.

The new facility will include design, engineering and vehicle testing provision along with vehicle test areas/test bays, vehicle preparation spaces and support functions together with associated plant, equipment and basement car parking, office and associated staff services.

JLR has said the facility is vital as it looks to develop innovate new models that will give it the edge over its global competitors.
 
Councillors on Coventry’s planning committee gave the scheme their backing.

The new development facility will have a floor area of approximately 60,000m² and there will be approximately 750 staff employed throughout the site.

A design and access statement in support of the proposals indicates that the primary function of the development centre is to provide 64 test cells of varying functions and capabilities. These will be arranged in a series of wings connected by a central spine that accommodates the associated engineering spaces needed to support the preparation and functionality of the test cells.

It is intended that 350 engineers will work within the space on the ground floor. The ground floor accommodation will also provide a vehicle preparation workshop with 10 bays and vehicle ramps, a component test area, test preparation and storage spaces, goods in and ancillary staff welfare space.

The first floor will comprise office space for 400 staff, a designated visitor route and landscaped external amenity space.

The main entrances to the building will be to the north and south of the spine with the north entrance being for visitors and JLR staff from other Whitley facilities and the south being adjacent to the staff car park.

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