WORK has started on a £3 million investment on a new Land Rover showroom in Ludlow.

Vernon Hogg, Shukers Land Rover's managing director, hosted customers and guests to the launch of their proposed new showroom site at Ludlow Business Park on Lingen Road.

The expansion project covering 2.2 acres is due for completion by early next year and has the potential to create several new jobs in the area.

Local Parliamentary candidate Philip Dunne was on hand to officially cut the first turf for the major new £3m development in Ludlow.

“We are delighted to welcome our customers and guests to witness the launch of our new site as we take great pride in supporting local people and businesses,” said Joe Barney, Shukers head of business for Ludlow.

“There is a great team of staff to promote the best possible customer experience from the showroom reception, the impressive vehicles on show, excellent servicing, and on-going customer support.

“We feel that these splendid new facilities will further add to that experience when completed and in operation early next year.”

The move will create a number of new jobs in the town and provide a boost to the local economy.

The new dealership will be next to its existing premises. There are a number of options for the existing facility including making it available as a dealership for another brand within the Shukers group.

Shukers is independently owned and is part of the family business the Rubery Owen Group.

The company has been in Ludlow for more than 30 years having opened the first dealership in 1981 on Sheet Road before moving two years later to its site in Lingen Road.

Shukers currently employs 25 people and three new jobs have already been created in connection with the new site.

Joseph Barney is the new head of business at Ludlow and there are two new sales executives Charlie Webb and Kirsten Pugh.

Further sales and administrative staff will be recruited.

The Shukers development is the latest good news for the town.

Earlier this year a business that employs nearly 30 people and exports all over the world secured the site of the former Coder Road highways depot.

The move clears the way for a major expansion for Flowfit that started from the front room of a house less than 20 years ago and is now one of the town’s major employers.

Linked to the move will be the arrival of an international business associated with the Ludlow based manufacturer and distributor of hydraulic equipment.

Flowfit will take over the one acre site that became available when Shropshire Council closed the waste facility last year.

The building that has 18,000 square feet of space will be used for manufacturing and the storage of stock.

Flowfit was formed in 1996 and is owned by local business man Simon Parsonage. The acquisition of the site means that the company will be able to expand and stay in Ludlow.

The existing unit in Parys Road will stay.