London Taxi Company (LTC) has hailed the designers of the ambitious firm’s state-of-the-art electric vehicle manufacturing facility in the West Midlands, as part of the business’ £325m electrification project.
Birmingham-based interior architects Monteith Scott designed high-quality interiors – and worked with a feng shui consultant – for the impressive new facility at Ansty Park in Coventry.
Ansty is the UK’s first car plant dedicated solely to the production of range-extended electric vehicles, and is where the world’s first purpose-built, electric taxi will be made. LTC has also announced that it will also build electric vans at the site.
The investment in the new site and the development of the next generation taxis and vans will create over a 1,000 new jobs, including 200 engineers and 30 apprentices.
Monteith Scott, which has delivered successful working environments for companies across the UK, was appointed to deliver an inspiring workspace across three floors of the new plant. The project included a reception area, a 270-seat restaurant, gymnasium, locker rooms and toilets. The company worked alongside BHP Architects on the scheme.
Alison Monteith, managing director of Monteith Scott, said: “The black cab is a truly iconic piece of London culture, known around the world, so it’s incredibly important that the space in which they’re manufactured reflects this.
“This has been a very exciting project for us to be involved with and, as the vehicles switch from diesel to electric, we were keen to present an environmentally friendly workspace that demonstrates the company’s commitment to the production of ultra-low emission vehicles. We worked with a feng shui consultant on key areas, to align the interior with the business ethos and to aid productivity.”
Paul Woolley, Chief Operating Officerat London Taxi Company, said: “On this electrification project our core belief has been that quality begins with good design, so it was natural we would work with a top architectural designer. Monteith Scott have created a bright, comfortable high quality work environment and we are thrilled with the result.”
The London Taxi Company became part of the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group in 2013, and its owners say this investment is a sign of China’s confidence in the UK post-Brexit.
The opening of the new plant set several records. It is the first brand new automotive manufacturing facility in Britain for over a decade, the first dedicated electric vehicle factory in the UK, and the first major Chinese investment in UK automotive. LTC have worked with many businesses in the West Midlands to deliver this project, making the most of the area’s rich automotive heritage.
Architectural interior design specialist Monteith Scott, based in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, is led by managing director Alison Monteith and design director Derek Matthews, and operates across a range of sectors.