New jobs will be created when the Dick Lovett prestige car dealership relocates its BMW and Mini showrooms in Bath to Melksham opposite its existing Jaguar and Land Rover showrooms.

The move to Portal Road will consolidate the dealerships in one area and free the existing site on Bath’s Lower Weston Road for commercial and residential property redevelopment.

It will also create new jobs as the company is advertising vacancies for the new site, which sits alongside the A350 main road between Melksham and Westbury.

In a statement, the company said: “We are delighted to announce that our BMW and MINI dealerships will be moving from Lower Bristol Road to a new-build state-of-the-art dealership at Melksham, opposite our Dick Lovett Jaguar Land Rover dealership that opened there in 2017.

“Our move is expected to take place in late 2022 when we will open our brand new showroom and 27 bay workshop.

“Our new showroom will be equipped with the latest technology, office suites so that you can continue your day whilst your car is with us and so much more.

“We cannot wait to welcome you to our new facility. We also have various vacancies to fill ahead of our move, so if you’re considering a new career, then please get in touch.

“As a family-run business, we are always looking for fun, passionate and self-motivated individuals who strive to exceed these high standards to join our team.

“If you are the right fit for any of our open roles in Bath, we would be eager to meet with you and discuss the move to our brand new facility."

Dick Lovett car dealerships in the South West officially represent BMW, BMW Motorrad, Mini, Jaguar, Land Rover, Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin.

The company has showrooms in Bath, Bristol, Hungerford, Melksham, Tewkesbury, Swindon and Cardiff.

On March 22 last year, the Jaguar and Land Rover showroom in Commerce Way, Melksham, was severely damaged after a Land Rover Defender caught fire.

The Dick Lovett Group started in 1959 as a two-man operation called Ross Motors selling motorcycles in Leicester.

Dick Lovett, supported by his wife Stella, had a passion for sports cars which he would buy and sell to other enthusiasts.

Mr Lovett relocated the business to the South-West in 1966 and started trading under his own name from the family home in Wroughton near Swindon. The group is now chaired by Dick’s son Peter Lovett.