Vospers Motor House is set to build a £10 million multi-franchise car dealership facility, delivering a FordStore and Mazda, Jeep, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and a prestige car showrooms on a single site in Exeter.

Leeds-based car dealership developments specialist, APP Construction has been appointed by the AM100 retail group to deliver the 45,000square-foot facility, which will be the largest development at Exeter’s Matford Green Business Park.

New sales showrooms and service facilities for Mazda, Jeep, Fiat and Alfa Romeo will be part of the new multi-franchise operation, as well as a prestige used car showroom and FordStore featuring an adjoining Transit Centre.

Vospers group chairman, Peter Vosper, said that he was hopeful that the FordStore element of the new development would be completed by the end of Q3.

He said: “It has taken a long time to reach this point but work started on January 8 and it’s good to see progress being made.

“The site brings together many of our existing franchise partners in a multi-franchise site like the one we have here in Plymouth and we’re keen to reach a point where we can show that to our customers in Exeter.

“Not only will the new site look fantastic, but we also plan to introduce a number of new operating initiatives which will help us drive efficiencies and improve the experience for customers.”

Peter Vosper said that an agreement to bring a prestige brand to the new development had yet to be settled, adding that the space could be occupied by a prestige used car operation.

He also expressed some disappointment at being unable to drive aftersales efficiencies by unifying aftersales operations into one workshop at the new facility, stating: “We have that in Plymouth, but things are changing and manufacturers have separate aftersales service desks and facilities written into their standards now.

“At the end of the day, we have to meet those standards.”

APP Construction director John White said that he was pleased to have been appointed by Vospers to deliver this important retail site in the South West.

He added: “It represents a significant investment and we are proud to have been entrusted with building these high-quality, prestige facilities.

“APP’s experience and attention to detail will ensure Vospers have outstanding facilities in Exeter.

“We already have our expert team at Matford Green and will be working with local contractors and specialists to deliver this exciting project during 2018.”

The project team also includes architect Dawson Williamson, structural engineers LB Design, and employers’ agent Dickson Powell Partnership.

AM originally reported on Vospers’ plans to bring together various franchise operations at Matford Green Business Park back in 2016.

At the time VW, Lexus, Toyota, Audi and Jaguar Land Rover dealerships had all added to the area’s automotive presence.