Jaguar Land Rover has made an application to formally postpone its involvement in a new multi-million pound technology park in Coventry.
The car maker announced it was postponing its plans to take up space on the huge Whitley South site on the edge of Coventry in March but has now made a planning application to vary conditions attached to the development of the site.
Concerns have been raised over the economic impact of the car giant slowing down its move to the site.
Groundworks began last year on the ambitious 60-acre Whitley South site, which was expected to create up to 6,000 jobs.
In March Jaguar Land Rover said the decision to postpone its involvement in the project had been taken due to “multiple headwinds simultaneously affecting the automotive industry and leading to challenges for the business”.
The Coventry car maker has now submitted a planning application to remove a condition to the original permission which requires that the company occupies the first 8,500 square meters of floor space.
Objections recorded in a council report argue the change is “a significant variation from the original planning application which potentially removes any employment or economic benefits to the area”.
Planning officers have recommended that Warwick District Council (the Whitley South site spans both Coventry and Warwickshire ) approves Jaguar Land Rover’s proposal at a planning committee meeting set for Tuesday, August 13.
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Jaguar Land Rover says the move would allow other companies to come forward to use the site.
However, Baginton Parish Council and Stoneleigh and Ashow Parish Council have objected to the plan over concerns that parts of the site originally developed for the car company would become “null and void”.
A summary of the objections states: “There was a commitment to provide highly skilled jobs in an extensive technology park - removing condition 13 means that this originally dedicated area could be used for almost anything and not that which was originally presented within the original planning application.”
The parish councils believe planning permission would not have been granted in the first place if this had been apparent from the start.
The summary continues: “Distribution, warehousing and associated elements do very little to the economic growth of the area and certainly do not deliver any of the economic arguments presented and agreed within the framework of the original application.”
Jaguar Land Rover said the removal of condition 13 would not impact the wider delivery of the scheme and empathised its commitment to the development.
A letter submitted to the council on behalf of Jaguar Land Rover on June 7 reads: “Jaguar Land Rover is still committed to develop the site but, as a result of recent multiple headwinds simultaneously affecting the automotive industry and leading to challenges for the business, has been unable to proceed to the timing that was originally planned.
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“Jaguar Land Rover is taking the necessary steps to address these challenges, transform the business and ensure its future, but as a consequence there is to be a delay to the Whitley South development.
“To prevent any impact on the delivery of the wider employment site and the delivery of the associated economic benefits, we seek permission for the removal of condition 13 to remove the further restriction of employment generating development from coming forward on the wider site.”
It adds: “We see no planning reason why the remainder of development on the employment allocation should be restricted and hinder the ability of floor space to be delivered, marketed and occupied prior to Jaguar Land Rover’s proposal from coming forward.
“The proposed removal of condition 13 will not impact on the delivery of the wider employment site, nor will it result in the weakening of controls imposed by the other conditions on the outline permission.
“Importantly, it will not result in a dilution of the economic benefits of the wider development and will enable these benefits to be delivered sooner rather than be delayed whilst the Jaguar Land Rover scheme is still being delivered.”
Site remains 'on track'
In March, Coventry City Council’s regeneration chief Cllr Jim O’Boyle said infrastructure work at the site remained “on track” and that the council was continuing to discuss the scheme with Jaguar Land Rover and other prospective tenants.
In original planning documents for the Whitley South site, Jaguar Land Rover revealed plans to demolish existing structures and erect new office buildings, along with research and development facilities and light industrial premises.
Outline plans also suggested the site would see the creation of hotel accommodation, car showrooms, retail operations and catering establishments.
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Big infrastructure and environmental changes formed part of the project - with a new road network, a countryside park, cycle paths, footpaths and landscaping.
Proposed A45 highway works included a new slip road for access to the site and a new bridge over the A45.
Works north of the A45 also included alterations to the two link roads which would connect the site and existing Jaguar Land Rover HQ to the A444 and Festival Island.
Works were also planned to access the development south of the A45 off Rowley Road and from Toll Bar Island.
Additionally works were planned to Festival Island, Whitley Roundabout and Stoneleigh Interchange.
In the outline application for the scheme Jaguar Land Rover said its overall aim was to support the firm’s continued growth and expansion.
The car maker has said the Whitley South scheme was just the first phase of a longer-term expansion project, with additional plans including the creation of a powertrain facility at its Whitley site.