TH White in Swindon has opened its Fiat Group brand centre which has been built with environmentally friendly features which will help reduces costs and its carbon footprint.

The site uses a rain-water harvesting system for car washing and toilet flushing and the dealership also recycles water from the valeting bays.

Waste engine oil is stored and used to heat the building while solar panels on the front and roof of the showroom also provide energy for heat and light – with low voltage LED bulbs.

The dealership sells over 1,000 Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Chrysler, Abarth and Fiat Professional vehicles a year from one site.

Peter James, dealer principal, T H White Swindon, (pictured) said: “Big showroom but small footprint.

“We have worked hard to make the site as environmentally-friendly as possible and even joined up with the local residents’ association to ensure the development fitted in with its forestry surroundings.

“We extensively re-planted the area with trees and shrubs and laid boulders along the front aspect. It’s a very eco-friendly site – even our fences are made of recycled plastic.”

More than 25 staff have started work at the development, which opened this week.

The showroom is divided into separate sections for each of the Fiat Group marques, with distinct branding, decoration and furniture featured in each area.

Tim Head, dealer development director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK, said the new site paves the way for vehicles showrooms of the future.