ANOTHER car dealership is set to move to new showrooms in Colchester’s Northern Gateway.

Lookers Land Rover is to move from its base in Cowdray Avenue to a new site off the A12.

This announcement follows a successful deal between Lookers Land Rover and Colchester Council for the sale of land at Axial Way.

The rebranded Land Rover showroom will join other car dealerships including Inchcape Volkswagen and Lancaster Toyota which both have state-of-the-art showrooms in the area.

The business deal will ensure the retention of 51 jobs with the potential for further skilled employment in the future.

Colchester councillor Mark Cory (Lib Dem), portfolio holder for resources, said the move shows Colchester was “open for business” and has the capacity to offer expanding businesses somewhere to grow and prosper.

He said: “Securing Lookers’ future in the borough will protect local jobs and boost the town’s economic development.

“The new facility is further investment in the council’s Northern Gateway project, which aims to create one destination for sports and leisure, for residents and visitors alike to enjoy.

“The council is becoming more commercial and enterprising in its outlook and this enables us to bring in income to subsidise and protect frontline council services.”

Lookers’ 10,500 square metre premises, which is due to open next year, will include a purpose-built showroom, workshop, staff and sales areas.

A spokesperson for Colchester Council added the expanded site will also provide a “substantial capital receipt for the borough and will generate additional business rates”.

Ewan Dodds, chief executive officer at Whybrow, joint selling agents with Newman Commercial, added: “Following the development of the A12 junction and completion of the link road to the town centre, this acquisition follows the earlier sale to Inchcape next door for their showroom.

“The Northern Gateway is also rapidly helping the town to become a real focus for new investment and heralds an exciting time for Colchester as a major regional centre for business.”

Other businesses already established at the Northern Gateway include Flakt Woods and the newly-opened David Lloyd Leisure.