1,000 more jobs on the way as Jaguar Land Rover doubles size of factory

The new L-shape development alongside the company's existing i54 plant could be completed within two years – although exactly what it will be producing remains a closely guarded secret.

The single-storey building will be up to 11 metres high and built to match the existing £500 million 100,000sqm engine plant.

A full planning application is set to be submitted next month and work could start on the new 85,000sqm development by Wobaston Road as soon as October. It is expected to take up to 18 months to complete the main building and the site will start being levelled next month while the application is being considered by South Staffordshire District Council.

Around 500 construction jobs will be created by the project with those in charge committed to ensuring that at least a quarter of those go to local people. Malcolm Howting, of project management company Stace, said: "The aim is local work for local people."

JLR spokeswoman Sarah McCarthy said an announcement on the use of the building would probably be made in the autumn, to coincide with the start of construction.

The existing factory makes four cylinder Ingenium diesel engines for cars such as the Jaguar XE sports saloon and the Discovery Sport, as well as the upgraded XF saloon and the F-Pace crossover Jaguar due next year.

A third hall is currently being fitted out to assemble petrol engines, which are expected to go into production by the end of this year.

A small corridor will link the petrol engine assembly hall to the new factory, which could be used to make even more new engines, perhaps bigger six-cylinder versions of the Ingenium. But it could also be used to make other major car components, such as gear boxes.

Matthew Goer, from Associated Architects, said the design of the building would largely follow that of the existing factory, drawn up by Arup, with the same saw-tooth roof as the existing factory. This will enable it to flood the factory with natural light – saving electricity – while the the new roof will also be fitted with a vast array of solar panels. Around 1,000 car parking spaces will be created, although JLR is hoping to encourage car sharing, bicycling and the use of public transport among workers. Around a third of the current workforce of more than 600 come from the local area. Eventually 1,400 will work at the existing factory.

Although the new factory will extend to the i54's boundary with Wobaston Road, all traffic will use the £40m slip road off M54 Junction 2.

The proposals for the new factory are on display at the Pendeford Community Hub as part of JLR's consultation, as it seeks local views and opinions. The display will be open today from 2-4pm and Saturday 10.30am-12.30pm.