Lloyd Motor Group gets green light for new Kia and Volvo dealership

Lloyd Motor Group has gained planning approval for a new Kia and Volvo multi-brand car dealership on the outskirts of Kendal.

The AM100 car retail group’s plans move the Morcambe Kia franchise acquired from Rayrigg Motors in January last year into its former PV Dobson Volvo, Dacia, Mazda and Renault dealership located at Bridge End Garage, Levens, were given approval by South Lakeland District Council.

Its plans, initially submitted in December, unite the two franchise points added through acquisitions in 2022, although Lloyd did not take on PV Dobson’s former Dacia, Mazda and Renault and also closed Rayrigg’s Windermere Kia franchise.

The new Kia and Volvo dealership at Bridge End Garage, just outside Kendal, will be 513 square metres larger than the existing building, at 2,701 square metres, and will include “internal alterations to accommodate a Kia showroom in accordance with the Kia corporate identity”, its planning application said.

Kia launched its latest corporate identity (CI) in 2021 and the brand’s UK president and chief executive Paul Philpott told AM that its retailers were “absolutely behind” the project after enjoying record profitability.

Lloyd’s new dual-brand site will utilise a main customer entrance shared between both Volvo and Kia brands.

“There will be a separate handover bay created to serve the Kia showroom, located in the north east corner of the building”’ it added.

Under Lloyd’s plans, a detached house on the site will be demolished to make way for additional display space for used Volvo vehicles.

An extension on the north side of the building, meanwhile, will provide four vehicle work bays and a new MOT testing facility.

A total of 10 additional jobs are expected to be created by the creation of the new dealership facility, meaning it would employ a total of 35 people.