Hendy Group has been granted planning permission for a new £9 million, three franchise showroom on the site of Eastleigh’s former magistrates court and council offices.

Mazda, Kia and Honda will be represented at the site on Leigh Road, which was given the go-ahead by planners at Eastleigh Borough Council on July 20th.

The new site will provide space for 27 new cars in the showrooms and the facility will also include a 20-bay workshop, space for 120 used cars on a display forecourt and separate sales tent.

Hendy Group managing director Paul Hendy told the Southern Daily Echo: “We have a long tradition of ongoing investment and expansion in the region and these plans represent the next phase of our history

“This is a really exciting time for the group and a fantastic opportunity for us to grow.”

Hendy Group is expected to enter the top 25 of the AM100 with 12 motor franchises at 25 locations in Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, and Devon and a projected annual turnover set to reach £600 million following last month’s acquisition of the Lifestyle Group.

The chairman of Eastleigh Local Area Committee, Cllr Paul Bicknell, said: “This is an exciting development that brings more business investment into our borough. The new Hendy car showroom will provide additional jobs and opportunities for local people.”

He added: “The council retains ownership of the site and the business premises will add to the council’s property portfolio that provides a significant rental income to the council thus helping to keep council tax low, without cutting services, for everyone in the borough".