11:24 am, June 4, 2011
HARRATTS has announced it has received planning permission to build a new showroom and headquarters.
The family owned and run motor group which operates 14 dealerships across Yorkshire, confirmed that the new development at Calder Park in Wakefield would represent an investment of £3m and create 25 new jobs.
Harratts, which has consistently grown in spite of tough market conditions in the automotive industry, confirmed that a new two-storey, purpose-built Honda dealership of 12,000sqft would be constructed on the land, with a new headquarters and suite of offices built adjacent.
It will be the largest construction project in the motor group’s 45-year history.
With work pencilled to start in June, it is hoped the new Honda dealership and headquarters will be open by December 2011, with at least 25 new jobs created in the run up to, and following, the opening of the new dealership.
Harratts recently announced that it had maintained its position as the second largest seller of Volvo cars in the UK and the latest announcement follows two years of strong growth in spite of a severe contraction in car sales in the UK.
The new headquarters will enable Harratts to continue to service its growing network of dealerships with increased office space and state-of-the-art facilities.
Shaun Harratt, managing director of Harratts, said: ‘Today’s announcement represents the most significant construction project in our history and a very exciting time for us as we continue our expansion.
‘We are delighted to be able to create 25 new jobs in the area as we prepare to open our latest site and our new purpose-built headquarters will also serve to support our continued growth in the region.’
