State-of-the-art facility will support thousands of customers across the North East
We're pleased to announce the opening of our new £5 million vehicle repairs facility at Tyne Tunnel Estate in North Shields, representing a major investment in customer service, vehicle repair expertise and future-ready technology.
The new 66,000 sq. ft. site has been purpose-built to create a modern repairs headquarters for the North East, bringing together several key operations under one roof and expanding our capability to support customers across the region.
Operating as the Lookers Paint & Body Centre, the facility features an advanced accident repair centre, a Volkswagen Group Service Excellence Centre, and a dedicated Electric Vehicle Battery Competency Centre. Together, these specialist services will help us deliver high-quality repairs and aftercare for both conventional and electric vehicles.
The new site has been developed through a combined £5 million investment by Lookers and UK Land Estates and has been designed with both current and future customer needs in mind.
Located just seven miles from Newcastle city centre, the facility is one of the most advanced vehicle repair centres in the UK and significantly enhances our ability to provide efficient, specialist repair services across the North East.
Investing in the Future
The opening of the new centre will create up to 15 additional specialist roles, building on our existing North Tyne team of more than 65 colleagues. By bringing operations previously spread across three separate units into one purpose-built location, we can improve efficiency while maintaining the highest repair standards.
Derek Lyon, Franchise Director at Lookers, said:
"We're delighted to be investing further in the North East and enhancing the experience we provide for our customers across the region. This new facility adds valuable capacity and specialist expertise in a world-class environment that has been carefully designed to meet current and future requirements with speed, accuracy and precision."
Designed Around the Customer
The facility will be managed by General Manager David Morallee, who has overseen the development of the new centre alongside UK Land Estates and Focus Architecture.
David said:
"We've worked closely with UK Land Estates and Focus Architecture to create a next-generation repairs facility that delivers exactly what our customers and manufacturer partners require.
Once a vehicle enters the site, it remains here until every aspect of the repair process is complete. The facility has been designed to feel bright, modern and welcoming, with features including a dedicated glazed vehicle handover bay where customers can inspect their vehicle before collection."
A Sustainable New Home
Lookers has invested £2.75 million in the facility, with UK Land Estates funding the remaining investment.
David Gibbs, Managing Director of UK Land Estates, said:
"UK Land Estates takes great pride in creating high-quality business spaces that help companies grow and succeed.
Our relationship with Lookers spans more than 20 years at Tyne Tunnel Estate, and this new facility has been built to achieve A-grade energy performance certification, supporting Lookers' long-term sustainability ambitions."
The new Lookers Paint & Body Centre will replace the existing site at Tyne Tunnel Estate following the completion of the relocation and will play a key role in supporting customers across the North East for years to come.