Jobs joy after BMW dealer revamp

An elite car dealership in Wolverhampton is being rebuilt as part of a £7 million investment that will include the creation of the UK's biggest new and used Mini showroom.

The flagship addition to Benham BMW, next to its existing base in Raby Street, All Saints, is creating 30 jobs. Renault's base in nearby Bilston Road has already undergone a £2.5 million revamp which bosses say will be the inspiration for its showrooms nationwide. Construction at Benham has already started on the site, which will also include a cafe and meet-and-greet area.

The used car display will increase from 35 cars to 80, with a new 24-bay service department, and customer car parking will increase from 20 to 50 spaces.

It is scheduled to open in December. The current BMW showroom will open as Benham Mini in March 2009 following a full refurbishment.

Benham has been in the city for 15 years and employs 90 staff.

Directors Steve Mills and Nigel Payne bought the firm from the previous owners in 2005.Mr Mills said today: "Our present site is a third of the size it needs to be to cope with our increased sales and services.

"We sell over 2,000 cars a year and deal with 60 service customers daily. The re-development of this site was proposed over four years ago and when Nigel and I bought the dealership we committed to building it into one of the best in the country."

Mr Mills has been working with the council for more than two years on a land swap to develop the land next to the existing Benham BMW dealership on the ring road.

Mr Mills joined local business development manager Jessica Bedding and James Nayor, of Armour Demolition at the site yesterday (pictured).

The site forms part of the historic Royal Hospital site, which itself is undergoing a transformation by owners Tesco to create a new headquarters for the primary care trust and homes.

At Renault, sales staff are to be located in a glass-walled office area, and the car park has been expanded.

Work is set to be completed in two months.