Mini in multimillion pound extension

9 June 2010, 05:30 | Updated: 9 June 2010, 06:40

The owners of Oxford's Mini factory are planning to expand it to help them make a new generation of the small car.

BMW intend to submitting plans for an extension to its Cowley plant to Oxford City Council in the next two weeks.

Although the plans haven't been submitted yet, Heart's had an exclusive look at them.

If approved, some of the buildings to the south of the heritage site would be demolished.  At the moment this area contains sales logistics, which is going to be centralised. The new building developed on this site will be where the new generation of the Mini is assembled.

The new car will be the third generation of the Mini, following the car's remodellings in 2001 and 2006.

Although there's no set date or idea what the third generation Mini will be like, this new building will be ready to start building it from 2013, if all plans are approved.

Mini say this proposed work proves they're investing millions in the long term future of the Oxford Plant.

Once proposals are handed into Oxford City Council, work on the new building could be start early next year and be completed as early as 2013.

BMW have written to 100 local people and asked them to come and look at plans at the plant on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 June, between 3pm and 8pm.

More than 210,000 Minis were made in Oxford last year.