Sunderland car sales firm drives ahead with £5.5million expansion

Pendragon has applied for permission to build a new Land Rover and Jaguar showroom on the plot of the existing dealership, with a new used car dealership on the former Quicks garage on the opposite side of the A690 at Stoneygate.

The firm say 15 new jobs would be created if the redevelopment is given the go ahead by Sunderland City Council as the turnover is given a boost, but papers state up to 45 positions could be generated through the Land Rover side of its trade.

It hopes to up its sales from 150 new vehicles and 200 used vehicles a year to up to 500 new vehicles and 800 used motors as it expects to “grow dramatically.”

A spokesman for the firm said: “Stratstone already has a fantastic customer base in Houghton.

“We can confirm we’re currently seeking planning permission for a project that will see significant investment in the location to provide customers with greater choice and an enhanced buying experience in a state-of-the art retail environment.

“Our plans also include job creation of approximately 15 new roles upon completion of the project.”

The Jaguar garage employs 33 workers, with 10 of those Aston Martin staff, with that division taken on by another dealer.

Documents submitted to the council show the existing Jaguar and Aston Martin showroom, who has been used for 70 years, was developed from Reg Vardy’s original home and haulage business and was bought by Pendragon in 2006.

Quicks, which as used as a car sales site and filling station and had employed 20 people, will be demolished as part of the scheme.

The business says the proposals have been put together because it needs to expand its Jaguar dealership, while Pendragon has been appointed by Tata Motors Limited to take on the Land Rover franchise for the Sunderland area.

The application states various options have been considered to locate both on one site, but that has not been judged to be the most appropriate, with the Quicks site to be used to fulfil requirements and a risk Tata would chose an alternative location in Sunderland or Durham.

It adds the Jaguar site would replaced by a new showroom, with the cottage on the plot to be demolished and replaced with a customer kiosk and valeting building.

There would also be a space created for a car transporter, as the trucks park up on the A690 when deliveries and collections are made now.

Expansion into green belt under “very special circumstances” rules means it would also be allowed to store more vehicles.