Proposals for a new BMW and Mini showroom have come to light for a plot near Junction 16 on the M4, which is also being eyed up for a forthcoming motorway service station in Wiltshire. Should it go ahead, the development outlined by Moto Hospitality could see a £30 million investment featuring 62 HGV spots, 241 car parking spaces, a petrol station, and a range of dining options.
Hot on the heels of this proposition, Wiltshire Council has received an additional planning application for 10 acres neighbouring the aforementioned site.
Dick Lovett Companies Limited has lodged plans for building a car salesroom and preparation hub. The application divulges: “Established in 1959, Dick Lovett operates car dealerships and car servicing facilities across the south west of England and South Wales with premises in Bristol, Swindon, Melksham and Cardiff. They are the largest longest serving BMW partner in the UK which began in 1968.”
Moreover, the submission adds: “Dick Lovett currently has a number of dealerships within Swindon and Wiltshire including at Frankland Road, just north of the same M4 junction as the site.”
The documentation suggests there’s a shift in the auto manufacturing and retail sectors towards “more green and sustainable locations located away from the traditional, legacy sites located in or around town centres”. Reflective of this trend, the Dick Lovett Group has been transitioning to such “sustainable locations”, keeping only its enduring sites for BMW, Mini, and their associated Bodyshop within the region of Wiltshire, reports Somerset Live.
The application reads: “The relocation from these remaining legacy sites will ensure the continued presence of Dick Lovett Group in the Wiltshire area both protecting existing jobs and enabling of the creation of new ones as the Motor Industry evolves.”
“The development of this site will allow for the relocation of an existing Dick Lovett site in Swindon (comprising two separate car dealerships and a prep centre), freeing up that land for more appropriate development in a sustainable urban location.”
In total, the proposed buildings would offer a combined floorspace of 7,841.5sqm, with distinct commercial buildings dedicated to car sales and a body shop for vehicle repairs.