We've known about the existence of a new McLaren, codenamed P11, for ages, though we've had to feed on scraps for the last couple of years because the maker's been notoriously tight-lipped about the car that essentially replaces the revered McLaren F1.

But now we know exactly where it will be built. Well, we think we do, because the maker hasn't yet got planning permission for the state-of-the-art McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) it hopes to erect next door to its current base in Woking, Surrey.

The thing is, if the Council says 'no' it'll be a very big deal because the plant gives the Government exactly the type of high-value, high-tech, income-generating facility it says it needs in the midst of a recession. As McLaren boss Ron Dennis puts it: "It would be easy enough to consider building McLaren sports cars in existing productive and experienced foreign factories; a number of which are knocking on our door." So, there's every reason for the plant to get the go-ahead.

And when it does, it will create 800 jobs directly and, McLaren estimates, another 1,500 indirectly in the surrounding community. Capable of knocking together 20 cars per day, the MTC will become the most cutting edge production facility in the UK, building one of the most eagerly anticipated cars ever. The P11, which will compete with the Ferrari F430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo - and that's compete properly, not in a 'we like it because it's British' sort of way - is destined for first customer deliveries in early 2011, so the MTC better get built quickly.

Mark Nichol - 21 May 2009