Project could create up to 2,000 jobs for the Midlands

Luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will shortly announce plans for a £400m engine plant in the Midlands.

The development is expected to take around two years to complete, and could create up to 2,000 jobs. It will be situated on the i54 business park in Wolverhampton, which is a designated enterprise zone.

The government is said to have offered around £10m in financial support for the plant after identifying the car industry as crucial to its plans for economic growth.

The company is expected to confirm the project imminently, alongside business secretary Vince Cable.

JLR has hired 3,000 staff this year, including a record 350 graduates. It now hopes to drive production at its Midland plants to 500,000 vehicles a year.