Jaguar Land Rover(www.jaguarlandrover.com) has announced plans to develop a former air base in Warwickshire and move its vehicle operations team there — around 300 people, currently based at three sites (two in Coventry and one in Gaydon).

Planning permission is expected to be sought for the old RAF Honiley airbase at Fen End , near Kenilworth, by the end of the month. JLR purchased the former aerodrome last September because of its proximity to the group’s manufacturing operations.

Sukhi Clark, JLR planning manager, said: “We have chosen to develop Honiley Airport because it is near our engineering and manufacturing centres. If planning permission is given, we will be able to start work in spring 2016.”

The land was used by a range of RAF squadrons during World War Two. The site has also been owned by Prodrive, a firm with strong links to Formula One. Land Rover tested prototypes of the first Range Rover there, and JLR already holds classic-car driving days there.