One of the Midlands' biggest warehouses is being created to cope with the unflinching rise of luxury car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
In a move expected to create at least 50 new jobs, an application has been lodged to expand a unit on the Prologis Park Midpoint in north Birmingham to create a 476,515 sq ft behemoth for storage and distribution.
JLR was first linked with the site, in Minworth, 15 months ago when it was rumoured the manufacturer was on the hunt for a new warehouse.
It has since signed a lease on the existing unit, called 'DC4' and covering 312,550 sq ft, with Prologis UK now looking to add a further 163,965 sq ft, a new gatehouse, service yard, parking and landscaping covering 19.7 acres.
Documents submitted for the application said: "This development is being proposed in response to the requirements of Jaguar Land Rover which has leased Unit DC4 as part of its storage and distribution operations.
"However, market information shows that there is considerable demand for large distribution units, which fulfil a vital role in the economy of the city and the wider region.
"The principle of developing this site for employment use has already been established as acceptable by the allocation of the site for employment use.
"The proposals for a storage/distribution unit with ancillary offices will result in additional employment space, which will consequently generate jobs.
"Applying accepted employment ratios, the development could provide up to 50 jobs on the site, with more supported elsewhere. The site is ideally suited to distribution use due to its excellent strategic road access.
"Distribution activity supports the efficient operation of other sectors such as manufacturing, and more provision here will help redress Birmingham's under-representation in this sector."
JLR will occupy the unit in a phased approach and it will joins its existing operations in nearby Castle Bromwich and the Engine Manufacturing Centre near Wolverhampton.
Existing tenants at Midpoint include logistics firms Europa Worldwide and Kuehne+Nagel.
