Rolls-Royce has confirmed it plans to build an �85m manufacturing centre close to Glasgow Airport in a move which will safeguard 1,000 jobs.

Inchinnan has been identified as the favoured location as the replacement for its existing Hillington factory.

The company confirmed its plans to build a new plant in Scotland in April, but said it was considering a number of possible sites.

Rolls-Royce has now chosen Inchinnan because it proved to be the most attractive for the highly-skilled Hillington workforce, most of whom live locally.

The plant is to be built on a brownfield site

Rolls-Royce managers also said Inchinnan had good transport links and that it could be made available in the required time.

A detailed planning application has been submitted to Renfrewshire Council and, subject to permission, the intention is to begin building work on the 50,000 sq m factory this summer.

The existing Hillington plant was built during WWII as a factory for Merlin engines, which powered Battle of Britain Spitfires and Hurricanes.

The new factory, which is being sited on a brownfield site, will make components which go into the majority of the company's gas turbines used in the civil aerospace, defence, marine and energy markets.

Divisional managing director Royan Anthony said: "The new plant at Inchinnan will, indeed, be a global centre of excellence.

'Vote of confidence'

"It will be clean, user and neighbour-friendly and will ensure continuity of employment in the 21st century."

Scottish Development International helped Rolls-Royce find the site and the organisation's operations director, Martin Togneri, welcomed the move.

"I know that the highly skilled workforce at the Hillington plant was a major factor in the company's decision, so this is a real vote of confidence in them," he said.

The transfer of work from Hillington is due to start in spring 2003 and should be completed by the summer of 2005.

Last November Rolls-Royce announced the loss of 400 jobs at the Hillington plant, as part of a worldwide business restructuring and as a result of the slump caused by the terror attacks in the US.