Monday 31st July 2006

TVR finds its new home

Iconic Blackpool car maker now set to move

---

Bristol Avenue: home no more

TVR and Blackpool Council have agreed a site for TVR's new factory. The nine-acre site, which is in the Blackpool Business Park close to Blackpool Airport, has been secured by TVR for the development of a state-of-the-art facility, confirming the company's commitment to remaining in the area and to retaining its local workforce.

"This is an important step for TVR, but there is still a lot to do towards the move," said TVR MD David Oxley. "Relevant consents and planning permissions need to be obtained first and contractors' proposals tendered, so we expect it to take at least 18 months to complete the project." In the meantime, however, TVR will continue with its interim relocation strategy, announced recently, to ensure that production and services are uninterrupted and customers are unaffected.

TVR chairman and owner Nikolai Smolenski said: "Blackpool is and has been historically a very important location for the British automotive industry. Both Jaguar and TVR were founded here, so I am glad to secure the future of TVR in Blackpool."

Blackpool Council is very pleased that TVR has decided to stay in Blackpool. Alan Cavill, head of corporate policy and development for Blackpool Council said: "We look forward to continuing to work with TVR to deliver their future plans, and I'm sure the company will go from strength to strength. I was delighted to help in bringing about this decision to retain TVR in Blackpool, both for the company's future benefit and for the employees and residents of Blackpool."

Blackpool Business Park is a 75-acre site at the end of the M55 and adjacent to Blackpool Airport. It is home to 30 companies employing over 2,500 staff.

[GOM]

Excellent news.

[planetdave]

Interim move?

I may not be party to the shenanigans going on but an interim move? And why separate HQ+development from factory?

All sounds nutty to me (yeah pot/kettle on 10/10)

[TUS 373]

Good stuff.

For those doom mongerers on the Top Gear thread recently (the one where JC said TVR were going to shut down....told you so.

[FUBAR]

Maybe someone should email a link to this thread to Top Gear?

And maybe someone else can run over the Hamster?

[_deejay_]

FUBAR said:

Maybe someone should email a link to this thread to Top Gear?

And maybe someone else can run over the Hamster?

Or even the same person - I'm not picky, as long as the job's done....

edited to add: the above post was not meant seriously, and I truly do not wish any harm to any small rodents.

Edited by _deejay_ on Monday 31st July 11:31

[davidlscott]

It's great news for the long term future of TVR.

After yesterday's Hamster comment on TVRs during the Noble test I've just about had enough with them.
The whole bunch of them are totally devoid of any interesting or useful ideas for a so called motoring show.

I see I have put this in too early and should have seen the Top Gear thread.

Edited by davidlscott on Monday 31st July 11:56

[Al 450]

davidlscott said:

It's great news for the long term future of TVR.

After yesterday's Hamster comment on TVRs during the Noble test I've just about had enough with them.
The whole bunch of them are totally devoid of any interesting or useful ideas for a so called motoring show.

I see I have put this in too early and should have seen the Top Gear thread.

Edited by davidlscott on Monday 31st July 11:56

Exactly why I stopped watching a couple of series ago.

Great news for TVR though to have a proper purpose built facility.

[Mr Freefall]

So, who is going to rent Peter wheelers Pension Fund building now then? or will he sell the site and make a mint???

[dinkel]

Mr Freefall said:

So, who is going to rent Peter wheelers Pension Fund building now then? or will he sell the site and make a mint???

Would like to know too . . . would make an excellent garage / speedcentre.

[hendry]

dinkel said:

Mr Freefall said:

So, who is going to rent Peter wheelers Pension Fund building now then? or will he sell the site and make a mint???

Would like to know too . . . would make an excellent garage / speedcentre.

He'll be selling the land for housing development or a superstore if he knows what's good for him.

[richb]

davidlscott said:

It's great news for the long term future of TVR.

After yesterday's Hamster comment on TVRs during the Noble test I've just about had enough with them.
The whole bunch of them are totally devoid of any interesting or useful ideas for a so called motoring show.

I see I have put this in too early and should have seen the Top Gear thread.

Agreed this is great news for TVR, I guess the interim move is to get them out of the rental agreement with PW. All in all it will be great to see a state-of-the-art facility built for TVR.

p.s. I missed Top Gear last night (in fact I've missed all of this new series) what derogatory phrase about TVR did the script writers have Hamster saying this time?

[dinkel]

Ham in the Noble: "everything is in place, not like some spaceship TVR with exotic doors and dials" . . . la la la . . . that sort of thing.

Just another way to say the car is not really oustanding . . . competing with 911 etc . . . . The TVR is more outrageous though. a bit too much for our midget I suppose.

[lurkio]

It's fantastic news, it's about time they pulled there finger out and realised the importance of TVR, well done indead.

[ianrudge]

dinkel said:

Ham in the Noble: "everything is in place, not like some spaceship TVR with exotic doors and dials" . . . la la la . . . that sort of thing..

What's controversial about that? Mad inside and out which is what makes a TVR a TVR.

Personally I like to know where the door handle is

Edited by ianrudge on Monday 31st July 12:44

[mightymouse]

Brilliant news

Good luck guys.

[planetdave]

On a trackday a friend lent me his Chim for a blast.

Only I couldn't go on the track with the windows down.

I had to slink back to the owner to have the switches pointed out to me

[FUBAR]

hendry said:

He'll be selling the land for housing development or a superstore if he knows what's good for him.

Wouldnt the land on which the old factory stands be deemed as 'contaminated land' due to the years of engine oil and other vehicle manufacturing by-products seeping into the ground (not on purpose, Im sure)?

[planetdave]

ianrudge said:

dinkel said:

Ham in the Noble: "everything is in place, not like some spaceship TVR with exotic doors and dials" . . . la la la . . . that sort of thing..

What's controversial about that? Mad inside and out which is what makes a TVR a TVR.

Personally I like to know where the door handle is

On a trackday a friend lent me his Chim for a blast.

Only I couldn't go on the track with the windows down.

I had to slink back to the owner to have the switches pointed out to me

[roop]

I believe the old site will be cleared for housing. I wonder where they will be while the new plant is developed..?

[TVR-NUT]

This is great news.