BMW Mini wants permission to build a new manufacturing building at the company’s Swindon plant.

The car manufacturing giant has applied for planning permission from Swindon Borough Council but says it does not necessarily mean increased capacity at the plant

The report prepared for the company by Milton Keynes planning consultants David Lock Associates said that demolishing an old building has given the space for an increased capacity at the plant in Stratton St Margaret but that permission for the new building would be needed ahead of any possible increased investment: “BMW Group recently demolished a redundant building at the southern end of the site.

“This created space for potential new investment in production facilities. BMW Group have taken no decision on whether to make further major investment in BMW Plant Swindon. However, a planning permission is an essential pre-condition for further investment.”

The design statement sent to planners at the borough council says the new manufacturing building would have 12,880 square meters of floor space, including an excess material building and container office.

At its highest point facing Bridge End Road the new facility would reach to 25.5 metres, dropping to 13.2m at the rear.

As it would take over some of the land used by the south car park in the plant, there would be a loss of 130 car parking spaces,

If the building were to be constructed, access would be from Bridge End Road and Swindon Road.

The building is described as: “a standard type, as constructed on other BMW sites to ensure it meets modern requirements.”

Stratton St Margaret Parish Council’s response to a consultation exercise was that it wasn’t worried about the size of the building but was more concerned about traffic impact. It added it was “pleased the site was being invested in rather than being sold off for housing.”

Because the company wants to have the planning application in place before it makes any decision on whether to build the new facility it has asked for permission, if granted to run for five years rather than the standard three.

The application by BMW Mini is available to view on Swindon Borough Council’s website using reference number S/18/1391

The Swindon plant has had £40m investment in it since 2003 and employs about 850 people making all doors, bonnets, tailgates and roof assemblies for Mini models.