Interserve has started the first phase of works at Jaguar Land Rover's new Engine Manufacturing Centre at the i54 South Staffordshire Business Park near Wolverhampton.

Interserve has completed the steel frame structure and cladding for the plant where Jaguar Land Rover is investing more than £500 million. The site will be the home for a new generation of technologically advanced, lightweight, 4-cylinder low emission diesel and petrol engines, and is expected to employ almost 1,400 people.

At almost 100,000 sq.m the facility will include an engine-testing centre alongside manufacturing and assembly halls. Expected to be finished in 2014, it will see the first engines coming off the production line in 2015. Interserve will also build associated gatehouses, a service yard, HGV parking, car parking and landscaped areas.

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Interserve has used Building Information Modelling (BIM) as part of the consultation and co-ordination process with Jaguar Land Rover, thereby facilitating an unprecedented level of detail at the design stage. BIM has helped to create real-world models ready for procurement, prefabrication, coordination, manufacturing and installation.

Interserve gained Jaguar Land Rover's input early in the design stage in order to avoid long lead-in times and to facilitate a fast-track approach for package procurement of structural steel, cladding and building services. This procurement approach is helping to keep works within schedule on what is a very fast-moving build.

As part of its contract with Jaguar Land Rover, Interserve is to deliver a BREEAM Excellent rated site. Indeed, sustainability is high on the car company's agenda for the plant, with a raft of renewables incorporated into the scheme, including the use of photovoltaics, solar collectors and grey water recycling. Interserve has been used to provide feasibility reports for Jaguar Land Rover in its consideration of sustainable options.

(CD/H)