Lancashire based Cox Motor Group is fulfilling expansions plans with a £3 million property investment along with a re-alignment of its manufacturer partners.

On a three-acre plot near Lancaster, plans have been passed for an 11-vehicle Volkswagen new car showroom, 100-space used car display and a 20,000 square foot bodyshop and prep centre.

David Cox, Cox Motor Group’s managing director, said: "We bought our Volkswagen business in 2008 and have really enjoyed working with the brand, customer satisfaction is high and we are experiencing strong growth in every area.

"It’s obviously a huge commitment to invest so heavily into the site, but it’s such a great business, and it’s the staff and customers that have made my decision an easy one.

"We expect to increase our workforce and obviously further secure the future for our current employees. In addition we have just last month opened a brand new used car facility adjacent to our flagship Honda dealership in Blackpool and are actively seeking to expand our successful Honda operation in Preston.”

Meanwhile, John Wilding, an established Citroen dealership based in Morecambe, has acquired the Kendal Citroen business from Cox Motor Group.

Cox said: “The owner Adrian Wilding has a great knowledge of the Citroen franchise and by acquiring our Citroen showroom, he can appreciate the economies of scale of representing Citroen in two locations. In turn it gives us the opportunity to concentrate further on our Honda, Volkswagen and Seat businesses.”