Rolls-Royce given permission for expansion plans

Plans to expand the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars plant at its headquarters in West Sussex have been approved.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars (RRMC) will construct five new buildings at its base in The Drive, near Goodwood, including a 41,620sq m manufacture warehouse. It will also build a four-storey car park and further assembly buildings.

Karen Rollings, Chichester District Council’s economic development officer, said the expansion will bring millions of pounds to the area each year.

But residents told a planning meeting they were concerned about traffic noise late at night during shift changes, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The first phase of work is for five buildings for manufacturing and ancillary use, a 550-space car park, a new access in Roman Road and the diversion of a public footpath.

The company also plans to build a four-storey car park for 1,700 vehicles and assembly buildings on part of the existing Stane Street car park.

Ms Rollings said the economic impact of a Rolls-Royce expansion was “massive”.

“It’s so important for this district. The expansion will ensure additional employment, not just at Rolls-Royce but at other businesses in the area."

Residents said they feared the development would mean an increase in traffic noise.

Shift workers can enter via the new access point in Roman Road or the existing Stane Street access.

HGVs would enter from the east via Roman Road and leave via Stane Street.

Councillors were told that this would mean there would be no increase in the traffic going through neighbouring Maudlin and would reduce the number of HGVs going through Westhampnett.

RRMC will replace an oak tree set to be felled in the build and pay £183,540 to sustainable transport in the area.

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