New £2.5m car dealership gears up for Runcorn (From Runcorn and Widnes World)
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Polar Ford builds development alongside Lidl
1:20pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in News By Barbara Jordan
From left, Keith Platt general sales manager at Polar Ford RuncornSimon Page property Manager at Ford Retail and Neil Creeney of developers Opus Land North
A NEW £2.5 million car dealership is taking shape in Runcorn.
Polar Ford is investing in a new development in West Lane, beside an £8 million Lidl store which is set to create 100 new jobs.
The dealership will include a five car showroom, 10 bay workshop and 70 vehicle display area, with a separate used vehicle sales office.
It is due to replace the company’s current site in Victoria Road when it opens in the summer.
All 38 staff will transfer to the new garage beside Asda.
Polar Ford general sales manager Keith Platt, said: “We’re very pleased that we have been able to go ahead with this major investment despite ongoing challenging trading conditions.
“The new site promises to provide our customers with an enhanced experience whether they are looking to buy a car or have their vehicle serviced.”
Polar Ford, owned by Ford Motor Company, is the largest Ford dealership group in Europe. Polar Ford is a leading brand in the north of England with 12 sites including dealerships in St Helens, Warrington, Wilmslow and Stockport.
Developer Opus Land North won permission from Halton Council to develop the former Vestric site in 2010.
Neil Creeney, associate director for developers, Opus Land North, said: “Our development will provide a catalyst for the regeneration of this whole area.
“To create over 100 jobs at this time is very exciting.
German discount chain Lidl has pledged to recruit Halton residents and is expected to open by the summer.
The store was scheduled to open a year ago.
