A new Ford dealership will open in Crawley, West Sussex, next month after an absence of over a year since the closure of the previous dealer, Otters Ford.

Lifestyle Ford will open its doors to the public in mid November, when the new dealership begins trading from premises on the former Vines BMW site in the Manor Royal Industrial Estate, Crawley, with an official launch taking place early in January 2005.

The new dealership, which cost about £3m to develop, will feature an 8,000 sq ft showroom with space for eight vehicles and a 6,000 sq ft workshop and parts area. Facilities at the site will include new and used car sales and service, commercials, fleet and corporate sales, MoT testing and a team of specialist Motability sales advisors who can look after disabled customers and wheelchair users, says Lifestyle Ford.

There will initially be 30 staff at the dealership, although expansion is expected.

Lifestyle Ford has existing branches in Horsham, Redhill, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells and will be opening another dealership in Horley next year, confirmed Isted.