Lookers shifts up a gear with £5 million repair hub

A “world class” £5 million vehicle repair hub is set to create up to 15 specialist jobs and support thousands of motorists across the North East.

Lookers Motor Group has moved into a new 66,000sq ft facility at the Tyne Tunnel Estate in North Shields, bringing operations previously spread across three units under one roof.

Trading as Lookers Paint & Body Centre, the site represents a combined investment by the dealership group and estate owner UK Land Estates.

Lookers has invested £2.75 million, with UK Land Estates funding the remainder.

The facility will include an accident and repair centre and a Volkswagen Group service excellence centre, alongside specialist electric vehicle facilities.

An Electric Vehicle Battery Competency Centre has also been incorporated to meet growing aftercare demand from EV drivers and support the group’s transition towards new automotive technologies.

Bosses say the development will be one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the UK.

Derek Lyon, Lookers’ franchise director, said: “We’re delighted to be investing further in the North East and to be delivering an enhanced customer experience for our customers across the region with new capacity and additional expertise in a world class, innovation-focused facility which has been carefully designed to meet existing and future needs with speed and exacting precision.”

The facility will be overseen by Lookers’ general manager David Morallee.

David added: “We’ve worked closely with UK Land Estates and Focus Architecture to create a next-generation repairs facility that delivers to our exacting requirements and unlike any other in the UK. 

“Once a car enters our site, it does not leave until all areas of repair work are complete. 

“Aesthetically, it will have the look of a bright, modern retail dealership – even boasting a glazed hand-over bay adjacent to reception where customers can inspect their vehicle prior to collection.”

The new roles will add to Lookers’ existing 65-strong North Tyne workforce and support services for customers across the region.

Located around seven miles east of Newcastle city centre, the new centre is expected to officially open later this month.

Lookers’ existing Paint & Body Centre at Tyne Tunnel Estate will remain operational until the move to the new facility is completed.

David Gibbs, managing director of UK Land Estates, added: “UK Land Estates takes great pride in providing the best business space for our tenants and creating the buildings and conditions that allow businesses to grow and thrive. 

"Our relationship with Lookers goes back over 20 years on the Tyne Tunnel Estate. Lookers’ new base will deliver A-grade energy performance certification, helping the company to meet its ESG commitments.”

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