A GIANT car dealership has unveiled plans for a major makeover of its Chandler's Ford showroom and workshops.

Hendy Ford wants to press ahead with investing millions of pounds on upgrading its Bournemouth Road site, where it has been trading for many decades.

The move should end speculation that the company might move to Leigh Road, where the Mr Kipling factory site will be vacant when Manor Bakeries closes at the end of the year with the loss of about 650 jobs.

The council is keen to preserve commercial use of the area to prevent a manufacturing meltdown in the town, and planners see the factory closure as a good opportunity to encourage Hendy Ford to relocate there, so the Bournemouth Road site could be redeveloped for housing.

However, Hendy Ford has already told the Daily Echo that it is keen to stay in its current location. A spokesman said that the Chandler's Ford site was a key component in the group and its future plans.

Now the company's intention to stay put at Chandler's Ford has been reinforced by lodging a full application for the demolition of the existing showroom/service building and two workshops.

The plans, which will be considered by Eastleigh councillors, involve building a new car showroom, two new workshops and a new canopy over the car sales area and recladding and the existing bodyshop.