Jaguar Land Rover – Project Churchill
Location: Whitley Engineering Centre, Coventry, UK
Role: Principal Engineer – Design & Construction (Jaguar Land Rover)
Core Expertise Demonstrated: Design Assurance · Stakeholder Management · Client-Side Design Leadership · Programme Integration · Digital Delivery
Project Overview
Project Churchill was a £260 million investment to deliver Jaguar Land Rover’s next-generation Powertrain Development Centre (PDC) at Whitley in Coventry.
The facility expanded JLR’s engineering campus with a series of advanced engine and vehicle test cells, support workshops, and a 400-person engineering office, all designed to drive innovation in low-emission and electrified propulsion systems.
The scope included 22 rotating test cells, 12 powertrain dynos (ambient, climatic, and altitude capability), 156 vehicle soak bays, and full office, canteen, and support spaces. The project targeted BREEAM Excellent and was designed to attract world-class engineering talent while future-proofing for the transition to hybrid and BEV testing.
My Role
As Principal Engineer – Design & Construction, I led the design coordination, stakeholder management, and project assurance functions for JLR, overseeing integration between the building, test equipment, and operational systems.
I acted as the link between JLR Property, Powertrain Manufacturing Engineering (PTME), and the appointed contractors (McLaren Construction, AVL, and M&E partners) to ensure all project streams remained technically aligned and programme-compliant.
What I Delivered
Design Assurance & Programme Integration
Oversaw all design and construction interfaces to ensure the building programme and equipment installation schedules were fully aligned.
Introduced the recommendation for a master programme integrating civil, M&E, and equipment works, reducing risk of design clashes and rework.
Delivered project risk reviews and contingency planning, allowing the project to remain on schedule and within budget despite major ground-contamination challenges.
Stakeholder Engagement & Governance
Established structured stakeholder engagement strategies to better capture and document end-user requirements within the design.
Facilitated design reviews between engineering, operations, and facility users to ensure the new test environments met performance and safety standards.
Advised on visualisation tools and BIM model walk-throughs to support communication with senior management and internal stakeholders.
Contract & Project Strategy
Supported the selection of a Design & Build procurement strategy to achieve cost and schedule certainty within tight constraints.
Recommended early engagement of the M&E partner to drive off-site manufacture and reduce on-site labour exposure.
Worked with Turner & Townsend to refine the Project Execution Plan (PEP), embedding lessons learned into governance for future JLR projects.
Digital Delivery & BIM Integration
Advocated for early adoption of BIM coordination and 3D digital modelling to align test-bay layouts with building services and structural systems.
Created assurance templates and tracking systems that improved visibility of design change, document approvals, and technical verification.
Impact
Project Churchill delivered a world-class test and development environment that enabled JLR to accelerate powertrain innovation while consolidating operations on a single, digitally connected campus.
The facility was delivered on time, on budget, and in compliance with JLR’s sustainability and quality objectives—serving as a benchmark for future facilities across the business.