The Car People expects to open its third and largest car supermarket by the autumn. This will increase its annual sales volumes to around 20,000 units and turnover to £200m.

The independent retailer has begun construction of a 1,200-car dealership at Sheffield. It will be finished in September, three years after its second outlet opened in Manchester. Its first site, which opened in 2000, is in Wakefield.

Jonathan Allbones, sales and marketing director, says: “Investing in the development of our retail portfolio will extend reach through the north of England and present new opportunities to challenge the market in its approach to car retail.”

Expansion has come slower than expected. In 2004 Allbones told AM he had a third site earmarked for 2005, and expansion would continue by one site per year providing the market conditions were right.

The company adopts a no-pressure sales approach and all sites provide family-friendly facilities, such as a playroom and cafe.