Major plan to store cars 'in volume' at new vehicle depot in Wooburn Green

Fresh plans to build a major car depot in Wooburn Green represent a ‘rare opportunity’ to bring jobs back to derelict parts of an office park, developers have said.

Citygate Automotive Ltd and BAM Glory Mill Ltd have lodged a bid to redevelop more than half of Glory Park near Watery Lane into a car storage and inspection centre.

Vehicles would be prepared and stored ‘in volume’ in an outdoor compound at the site, which has existing planning permission for 448 car parking spaces, and then moved on to dealerships in Buckinghamshire and beyond.

Citygate is a national retailer of Volkswagen vehicles, Škoda, Seat, Cupra and Kia and Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Great Wall Motors (GWM).

It has 27 dealerships in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, London, Middlesex, as well as supplying direct to motor companies and managing vehicle parts supply to garages. BAM Glory Mill Ltd has previously submitted bids for flats in the office park area.

The development plans said Glory Park ‘has been identified by Citygate as of high strategic importance for the future growth of the business’.

“The site is bisected by the River Wye, and is accessed via Glory Park Avenue and Watery Lane, which provide direct connections to the A4094, and subsequently the M40, which is essential for the tenant operations,” the plans said.

Glory Park was historically part of the Clapton Mills paper mill on the River Wye chalk stream. The mill operated from 1800s until its closure in 1999 due to a collapse in demand.

The new plans for the site feature a phased development of the office park, including 3.4 acres of outdoor vehicle storage space and a ‘Pre-Inspection Delivery Centre’.

“The Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) Centre will incorporate a workshop for minor cosmetic repairs, paint booths, offices, photographic studio and valet facilities,” the plans said.

The documents said: “Having the ability to store vehicles in volume adjacent to a PDI Centre will significantly improve the efficiency of Citygate’s regional operation.”

The Glory Park site is neighboured by homes in Wooburn Green village and is designated an employment zone in Buckinghamshire Council’s existing Local Plan, the developers’ plans said.

The plans said: “Citygate are very aware of the proximity of their future residential neighbours and the scheme takes them into account in the way the site is designed and operated.

“The operation on site will be controlled by an operational management plan to be agreed with the council via any planning consent”.

It added: “The proposal is for a high quality employment generating business that seeks to make efficient use of a long-term vacant site and bring beneficial employment use to the area, which is sympathetic to both the adjacent residential and commercial occupiers.”

The developers’ plans said: “The site has proved extremely difficult to find a viable commercial solution and therefore, this proposed development, in partnership with Citygate, presents a rare opportunity to deliver an employment generating commercial use on the remaining development plots that is balanced with the amenity of its residential neighbours.”