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The Dick Lovett Group has opened its first Jaguar Land Rover dealership following the creation of a new 54,000 square-foot Arch Concept facility in Melksham, near Bath.

The first Jaguar Land Rover site from the Swindon-based AM100 retail group has been created with customers in-mind, includes 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.

A 21-bay workshop promises to offer a swift aftersales service to customers, meanwhile, as a colour and trim area to the showroom gives visitors the perfect opportunity to research options for a new Jaguar Land Rover before they buy.

Dick Lovett’s Jaguar Land Rover Bath facility, which is on Commerce Way, Melksham, will also offer used models on Jaguar Land Rover’s award-winning ‘Approved’ scheme, offering a two-year unlimited mileage warranty, two years’ breakdown cover and a 165-point mechanical check.

Jeremy Hicks, UK managing director of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “On behalf of the whole Jaguar Land Rover team I’d like extend a very warm welcome to the Dick Lovett Group.

“Their new site in Melksham is absolutely state-of-the-art, providing residents of the Bath area the kind of sales and aftercare experience we want for all of our customers.”

Richard Davies, head of business at Dick Lovett Jaguar Land Rover Bath, said: “As the Dick Lovett Group we have always admired the Jaguar Rover brand.

“We’re a very successful family-owned and family-run business with great heritage, so to open our first Jaguar Land Rover site, full of some of the finest British cars, is a real highlight.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming new and existing customers through the door over the coming weeks and months to show them the befitting experience we’ve created.”

Dick Lovett said that its new JLR facility would create up to 150 jobs as its plans reached the planning stages early last year.

Dick Lovett acquired the land which the new facility sits on from Bristol-based 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.”