Major expansion for Jaguar Land Rover engine plant

Car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is expected to submit a planning application to build a new 85,000m² steel-framed building at its i54 car plant near Wolverhampton.

The 11m high, single-storey L-shaped factory building designed by Associated Architects has been designed to match the existing steel-framed multi-span structures.

Matthew Goer, from Associated Architects, said the design of the building would feature a saw-tooth roof that will flood the factory with natural light – saving electricity – while the new roof will also be fitted with a vast array of solar panels.

Around 1,000 car parking spaces will be created, although JLR is hoping to encourage car sharing, cycling and the use of public transport among workers.

Around a third of the current workforce of more than 600 come from the local area. Eventually 1,400 will work at the expanded factory.

Around 500 construction jobs will be created by the project with those in charge committed to ensuring that at least a quarter of those go to local people.

The existing factory makes four cylinder diesel engines for cars such as the Jaguar XE sports saloon and the Discovery Sport, as well as the upgraded XF saloon and the F-Pace crossover Jaguar due next year.

A third hall is currently being fitted out to assemble petrol engines, which are expected to go into production by the end of this year.