Family-owned Williams Group invests in flagship retail centre and creation of 20 new jobs

Williams Group has unveiled exciting plans for a £41m flagship retail centre for BMW, MINI, Land Rover and Jaguar to bring a prestigious, new motor offering to Peel Land and Property’s evolving TRAFFORDCITY development.

The high-profile location of the £41m showroom adjacent to intu Trafford Centre, opposite EventCity, was selected by the Williams’ team because it met its exacting requirements for a prominent site to accommodate its retail centre with landscaped parking and grounds, setting new standards in vehicle retail and service for customers.

Striking three-storey contemporary glass fronted showroom

Williams’ vision for its 14.3-acre plot, a former container base site, includes a striking three-storey contemporary glass fronted showroom, featuring its extensive range of new and approved used BMW. MINI will be incorporated into the facility with an exciting new purpose built 10-car showroom. Jaguar and Land Rover will see the introduction of their ARCH concept featuring an 18- car dual branded showroom together with a service drive through.

The new centres will bring a striking new addition to the Barton Dock Road route into TRAFFORDCITY, which is also home to EventCity, the largest event space in the north of England, a new Holiday Inn Express and many family attractions.

A new Metrolink tram station is also set to be located opposite the Williams’ development with the new line due to be completed in 2020.

Williams Group plan to relocate its current showroomsfrom Upper Brook Street and Birchall Way in Manchester to TRAFFORDCITY and anticipate work starting in the early summer of 2018 with completion within one year.  

Williams Group employs a total workforce of 812 with 240 relocating to the TRAFFORDCITY site and a further 20 new jobs will be created.

Commitment to the region

Nick Cook, Williams Group Managing Director, said: “We operate one of the largest family groups of premium and luxury automotive retail centres in the country and continually invest and improve our business to benefit our staff and customers. 

“As a family-owned business, we are underlining our commitment to the region by relocating to this flagship 14 acre site where we will retail and service cars from the finest retail centres in the North West. Once complete we will be delivering the Williams’ difference that our loyal customers have come to expect and look forward to welcoming new customers to our new location.

“One of the great advantages of TRAFFORDCITY will be ease of access for our customers wanting to enjoy the renowned Williams’ experience. They will also have access to the exceptional retail and leisure offering of intu Trafford Centre and its flagship stores including John Lewis which is adjacent to this site.”

James Whittaker, Peel Land and Property Group Development Director, said: “We’re delighted that Williams has agreed to invest and build such a high standard showroom and servicing facility at TRAFFORDCITY. BMW, MINI, Jaguar and Land Rover are exactly the kind of aspirational brands we wanted to attract to activate this part of TRAFFORDCITY, which is going through some fundamental improvements including the development of the new Trafford Park Metrolink line.”

Williams BMW Motorcycles will remain at its location on Chester Road, Manchester with Williams Select, the firm’s used car business retailing non-franchise brands, relocating from Upper Brook Street to the vacated site of Williams MINI Manchester on Chester Road.