Dick Lovett expects to create 150 jobs at new Jaguar Land Rover 26-car showroom complex.

Wiltshire Council have given the green light for the four acre greenfield site off at Hampton Park West, south of Melksham, and paved the way for the dealer group’s first Jaguar Land Rover franchise.

The group expects to create 150 jobs with its new venture, which will be based at the planned 54,000sq-ft development.

Planning application documents related to the project, which is expected to get underway before the end of the year, said: “Dick Lovett companies Ltd is a large employer and has been well established in the south west of England for 50 years.

“Porsche and Ferrari have been its longest running dealerships in Swindon but they have the opportunity to expand their range of brands with this new JLR dealership.”

The statement described the four-acre greenfield location as “the perfect site for development as the flagship JLR dealership”, adding: “JLR have a very good understanding about what levels of car stock, office spaces and workshop requirements a dealership in this area will require and the building size has been designed firmly with this in mind.

“The site has space for some 315 car parking spaces including customer parking, staff parking, used car display, demonstrator, courtesy car parking and new/used car stock.”

Dick Lovett’s JLR facility will include accommodation for 18 new cars, a used car showroom with space for eight vehicles, a drive-in service centre and an aftersales suite including a lounge with barista bar and children’s play area.

The scheme also includes a supporting workshop and internal car wash facility, and a suite of executive offices.

Dick Lovett acquired the land from Bristol property developer Ashville in a sale handled by the Swindon office of property agency Alder King and the Bristol office of JLL.

Martin Baker, senior surveyor at Alder King, who negotiated the transaction on behalf of Ashville, said: “In a market with limited availability, this site was notable for its prominent location and superb road frontage. It will make an excellent prestige dealership for Dick Lovett and a new gateway building for Melksham.”

Last year Dick Lovett, which employs 619 staff in its outlets in Swindon, Bristol, Hungerford, Cardiff and Tewkesbury, celebrated its 50th year in business.

In its most recent set of financial results, for the year ended December 31st, 2015, the group achieved a £402m turnover and gross profit of £33.2 million.