A huge new warehouse to be built in Swindon could bring up to 2,000 new jobs as part of a £400m investment in the town.

Developer Panattoni and its partner, Luxembourg company LU UK VI Sarl, has been told it can put up the single unit warehouse the size of seven football pitches on the Symmetry Park site south of the A420 at Gable Cross by Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee.

The company says it has designed the warehouse and associated offices to meet the needs of a specific occupier, but it won’t say which.

James Watson from the firm said: “It’s a major international client of Panattoni, and it is part of a £400m investment in Swindon.

“It’s a company which is relocating to Swindon, but given the size of the investment we are not able to disclose who – but it will bring about 2,000 jobs to the site.”

The company was given permission last year to build two separate units, but did not take that up, and came back to the council's planners with a scheme for a single unit.

There had been concerns expressed about the impact of the development on the local roads, particularly the A420 before scheduled improvements to Gable Cross take place.

But the company’s agent Tim Partridge said: “This development will be completed by April 2021, the Gable Cross works will be completed before this building is.”

Senior councillors spoke at the meeting to back the proposal, including the council’s leader David Renard and his deputy Russell Holland

Coun Renard , who is now the cabinet member with responsibility for economic recovery as well as leader of the council said: ”This development is extremely important for the local economy, and the infrastructure needed for it is either in place or the funding necessary is in place.

“It will bring many jobs, some high-skilled and some less so and will provide opportunities for people wanting to move from other companies, or for those wishing to retrain.”

Coun Holland who is a ward member for St Margaret and South Marston said: “I understand that changes like these can be challenging. The estate where I live in Stratton used to be a farm, but this will bring high-skilled jobs to the area.”

Immediately south of the Symmetry Park site is the Lotmead village New Eastern Villages development of 2,500 houses which was also given the green light by the committee.

The council’s cabinet member for strategic planning Gary Sumner, told the committee the investment by Panattoni on the site was “at the right time, in the right town and in the right place.”

The development was approved unanimously.