Jaguar Land Rover has had an application approved to extend its powertrain building at Whitley.

The extension was given the green light by Coventry City Council’s planning committee after being recommended for approval by officers.

The building is one of the largest on the Whitley site, the global headquarters of the car maker.

It contains the powertrain team with associated test facilities, equipment and office space.

This particular development is not creating any extra jobs.

Used to develop and refine components

The facility is where Jaguar Land Rover engineers develop and refine the main components that generate power for their vehicles - such as the engine, transmission and drive shafts.

The extension would see the creation of 9,250 sq ft of space over three floors.

The company says it needs the extension to create additional space for the powertrain team.

It would enable the creation of a specialist storage system, airflow laboratory, toilets, storage for cleaners and a stores office.

Land Rover Fest celebrates 70 years of Land Rover View gallery

Acceptable form of development

A planning statement submitted by Pegasus Group on behalf of Jaguar Land Rover said: “The extension would reflect the predominant materials and architectural form of the existing building and blend into the existing elevation using a similar colour scheme and design.

“The proposals are not therefore out of character for an industrial building and would not appear incongruous from a design perspective.

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“It is considered that the application represents an acceptable form of development which will provide the facilities required to support Jaguar Land Rover operations at their world headquarters site in Whitley.”

Loss of parking spaces

A total of 12 parking spaces would be lost according to the planning application, reducing the number of spaces from 44 to 32.

The application says that the spaces are only used for fleet, prototype or test vehicles rather than staff parking and added that a new 220-space car park is due to be created elsewhere.

The extension forms a part of much larger plans by Jaguar Land Rover at Whitley and the application makes reference to these.

Look: First open consultation by Jaguar Land Rover for £500m expansion plan in Whitley View gallery

They include a new powertrain facility and afore-mentioned car park, along with a new road which would connect to the Stivichall Interchange, as well as a bridge to cross the A45.

Separate applications have been approved to connect the Jaguar Land Rover Whitley site to expansion land and new office space to the south of the A45 predominantly within Warwick District Council’s administrative area.

Speculation over electric vehicles

The car maker has not specified what the new powertrain facility will be used for but there has been speculation it is connected to the development of electric vehicles.

Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Ralf Speth has previously said the company wants to put Coventry at the heart of its electric vehicle plans.

Land Rover Parade at Coventry Motofest 2018

It has also said it wants to have electrified versions of all its vehicles by 2020.

The planning officer’s report for Jaguar Land Rover’s application to extend the existing powertrain building at Whitley stated: “In view of the siting and design of the extension it accords with development plan policies and supplementary planning guidelines and therefore the application is recommended for approval.”

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