Up to 1,000 jobs could be created at Jaguar Land Rover’s plant in Merseyside following the launch of its new Range Rover. The vehicle, which will be called the Evoque, was unveiled at a ceremony in London last night. It is said to be most fuel efficient Range Rover that the company has ever produced. The car is expected to be formally unveiled at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September and go on sale in the summer of 2011.

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Manchester is a “cold spot" in the UK property investment market, despite a more positive national picture. That’s the verdict of DTZ’s Tony McGough, the head of global economics and property forecasting and his colleague Martin Davis, head of UK property research. “Our own analysis supports a more positive outlook for the UK, with sufficient equity to resolve debt funding gap,” they said. But they added that most UK activity is in the central London office market.

Blackpool Council has selected Eric Wright Group and Northgate Managed Services as its preferred bidders to deliver the £180m Building Schools for the Future programme. Eric Wright is headquartered locally in Preston, while Northgate has operations in Bury. Work is expected to start this year at the first schools to be delivered with the remaining schools delivered in the next five years. The council’s David Lund said: “Eric Wright has made a commitment to working with local suppliers and recruiting from this area.”

Industrial property powerhouse SEGRO has completed two further lettings at Trafford Park. Lindab, a manufacturer of sheet metal products, has taken a 44,080 sq ft unit on a ten-year lease, while cable supplier Cable Glands has taken 4,670 sq ft of space at Premier Park on a ten-year lease. SEGRO’s leasing executive Hazel Lambert said: “The past two months have seen deals to both new and existing occupiers, which really demonstrates how SEGRO is listening to the market and adapting accordingly.”

Work has begum on the 850,000 sq ft JD Sports warehouse development at Rochdale’s Kingsway Business Park. The warehouse, which comprises 616,000 sq ft distribution centre and 250,000 sq ft of mezzanine space, will be built by Winvic Construction for Wilson Bowden Developments. Work is expected to complete by spring 2011. Roger Ellis, chief executive of Rochdale Borough Council, described the development as “great news for the local community as JD Sports will be retaining existing jobs and attracting new employment opportunities”.

The £3.5m refurbishment of Unites Utilities Property Solutions’ Linley House office building in Manchester has been completed. The scheme, which was designed by architect Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams and project managed by Walker Sime, is now being marketed by Edwards & Co and Lambert Smith Hampton. The building, set over eight floors, already houses Cable & Wireless UK and Electricity North West. Rent is quoted at approximately £16.50 per sq ft.