Aston Martin’s
new centre may signal further local investment

This is the latest positive news for the district’s economy as businesses hope 2014 may be a more successful year.

With its main engineering plant in nearby Gaydon, the luxury car maker has now 
earmarked the Tournament Fields business park in Warwick for its new 21,000square metre distribution centre.

And the hope is that the internationally-acclaimed brand will look to the area for more of its expansion plans.

The site between Stratford Road and the A46-Warwick Bypass will also be used for small sub-assembly of parts for Aston Martin’s plant at Gaydon.

The site will have 65 jobs on it, some filled by the transfer of staff from Aston Martin’s existing site in Banbury.

In documents submitted to Warwick District Council, its consultants predict the need for 80 staff on site in the near future, which will see Aston Martin “actively recruit locally”.

The documents go on to say: “Attracting Aston Martin to Warwick is a rare opportunity. Aston Martin is a global brand with huge cachet and is associated with the best of British engineering.”

Attracting the luxury car maker would be a feather in district’s cap, said Joe Baconnet, economic development and regeneration manager at Warwick District Council.

He said: “Aston Martin has had significant investment from around the world to develop its products line.

“We would hope that we attract further investment, if from Aston Martin that would be great, or from others.

“For the area it means that if you go past Tournament Fields you will see a prestigious name that has chosen to be in Warwick.

“It’s good news, a great start to 2014 and one sign of the level of demand for the future.”

The Tournament Fields area was designated for employment and homes 10 years ago.

Warwick Town Council has backed the plan and the final decision is likely to be made by Warwick District Council early this month.

Aston Martin hopes to be on site by October, when its Banbury lease expires.