The redevelopment of the Honda site will bring 9,000 jobs to Swindon and another 7,000 to the wider supply chain, according to the plant’s new owners.

That would mean more than 12,000 more jobs would be created by the new uses of the South Marston site than were been lost by the departure of the Japanese car manufacturer.

And the new owner, industrial developer Panattoni wants to hear from local people about how they want to see the huge site in on the edge of Swindon redeveloped.

The company has produced a glossy 36-page document setting out what its initial plans are for the site and asking for views.

It has not put in a full application for planning permission, but it has asked for an environmental impact assessment screening opinion – a common precursor to major proposals – which says it is looking to build premises for industrial use, warehousing and logistics, totalling 672,000sq m.

The company says: “This will deliver a flexible mix of employment land to ensure it can respond to and accommodate the demands of the market.”

There will be 'n allowance of buildings of varying sizes to suit the needs of local, national and international businesses'.

In the first indication of how the site will look, Panattoni says buildings will not be higher than 35 metres in the central areas and no higher than 25 metres on the edges.

And they will be built considering the effect on views from the North Wessex Downs AONB.

The company expects its £700m of investment will bring: 'Circa 7,000 direct new jobs created on site over the next 10 years, and circa 9,000 indirect jobs created off site and an average of 900 a year in the national supply chain.

"A total generation of 16,000 new jobs of which we expect about 9,000 will be taken by the residents of Swindon."

The consultation document adds that 860 people will be employed in building the new facilities on site over 10 years.

Panattoni’s development director James Watson said: “The £700m speculative investment we are making in the site is the largest in the company’s history and we’re a big developer in the US and in Europe.

"This is a huge vote of confidence in both the workforce of Swindon and its location, and this is the first step in our promise to redevelop and find a new use for the site.”

Borough council leader David Renard has political responsibility for the economic development of the town.

He said: “Panattoni won’t be using the site, that has to be remembered.

"The company is a developer, and it will put in the facilities for other companies and businesses to come and use it.

“Who those companies might be is covered by commercial confidentiality of course, but I imagine a company like Panattoni would not be investing such a huge sum of money without being confident it has clients lined up to take places on the site.”

Coun Renard said he was confident the former airfield would not become simply a huge warehouse park for logistics companies and e-commerce firms. “Both the council and Panattoni have been clear from the start of the process that we want a mixed economy up at the site, both industrial and logistics.

“That will bring a need for a range of skills and a range of jobs and also a range of salaries, which will be good for the people of Swindon.”