Rishi Sunak arrived in Wiltshire on Monday morning.
The Prime Minister visited Honda’s former production plant in Swindon, which will house a new £900 million advertising site.
Panattoni Park, a production and storage facility, is expected to create 7,000 jobs.
Honda opened its plant in South Marston in 1985 but closed it in 2021 after making more than 3. 7 million cars.
Rishi Sunak considers Panattoni Park to be an “innovative development”.
Speaking on the floor on Monday, he said it would create “thousands and thousands of jobs” for the region.
“What we were able to celebrate today is one of the biggest investments in the South, one of the biggest progression projects in the South.
“Everyone here can look forward to a better future,” he added.
Sunak said this would also attract more jobs to Swindon, which he said is “very fortunate to have not only a wonderful location, but also shipping connectivity that makes it an attractive location”.
James Watson, from commercial developer Panattoni UK, said: “This is very much a phoenix tale rising from the ashes.
The complex is expected to be completed in a few years.
Demolition painting of the factory buildings has already begun
Honda’s plant took up about 2. 2 million feet of space, but Panattoni says its buildings will take up more than 5. 5 million feet, making greater use of the site’s potential.
Watson, Panattoni UK’s head of progression, for London and the south of England, said the existing demolition was necessary, but that this and the next structure would be carried out in the most environmentally friendly way possible.
“The buildings simply have compatibility with the wishes and desires of fashion brands and users of logistics and knowledge centers,” he said, adding that they were 40 years old and “built for a very specific purpose. “
“That’s why we’re going to build new buildings and we’re very excited. “
The developers hope to recycle about 90% of all fabrics and aim to be as sustainable as possible, Watson added.
The demolition phase is expected to last between 12 and 18 months, but in this period the structure will also begin.
Image source, Panattoni.
It is expected to be fully open in five years.
Panattoni hopes to have built one or two first buildings by then, with a business plan to build speculatively and then attract customers, before moving on to the next phase of construction.
“In total, it’s a five- to six-year program,” Watson said.
“If the first phase is well adopted, we will launch the next one, but so far we have generated interest. “
The site was once a World War II airfield and aircraft factory, with thousands of examples of models made and tested there, in addition to the iconic Spitfire fighter jets.
Watson said developers were “talking to multiple occupants. “
It is designated as a key employment floor in Swindon.
Swindon Borough Council Leader Jim Robbins said: “I am pleased that through it all, we are seeing progress become a reality at the former Honda site, as it will future-proof Swindon’s economy, generating thousands of new jobs and significant investments in biodiversity. “, local roads and public infrastructure. access.
“It sends a transparent signal that Swindon is very open for business and that we are a thriving city. “
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