The approval of plans which would see 7,000 new jobs created at the town’s former Honda plant has been welcomed.

Political leaders have said they are pleased to see the new jobs created in the town, following the closure of the Japanese car manufacturer in 2021 after 36 years in the town.

The £700 million plans, which will see 12 large industrial buildings or warehouses constructed, were approved by Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee on Tuesday evening.

Panattoni, a developer which bought the site in early 2022, said the plans would add £330 million a year to Swindon’s economy, and a total of 12,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Twelve councillors voted in favour of the plans, with only one abstaining.

Reacting to the news, council leader David Renard said that it is a “fantastic opportunity for Swindon and we wholeheartedly welcome them to our town”.

The Conservative added: “Swindon has a proud tradition of innovation and re-invention, so is ideally placed to exploit its competitive advantages and respond to the opportunities that a changing economy presents.”

Meanwhile, cabinet member for strategic infrastructure and planning Gary Sumner added: “Panattoni’s experience in delivering high-quality employment parks will bring new and diverse opportunity to the site and to Swindon.

“We worked hard to try and find a development that would at the very least replace the lost jobs – this is far more than we could ever have imagined at that time.

“The economic benefits statement anticipates up to 7,000 jobs on-site and an additional 5,000 indirect jobs. That’s up to 12,000 jobs.

“A range of employers and the jobs offered will ensure minimal risk from one single employer’s change of direction.”

The leader of the Labour group at the council, Jim Robbins welcomed the creation of more jobs but sounded a note of caution. He said: “We are pleased to see new jobs coming to Swindon as the Honda factory site is redeveloped, but we are increasingly concerned that Swindon is attracting lots of jobs in the logistics sector and these aren’t replacing the high-skilled jobs lost at the Honda factory.

“We need Swindon to reinvent itself, in the way that it did with Honda after the railway works closed. We don’t see low-skilled and low-pay logistics jobs as driving the town forward and reinventing itself.

“The Labour group is committed to developing the new highly-skilled green jobs that we need for the future, and will be supported by the future Labour government’s commitment to a £28bn Green Jobs fund.”