Infiniti, the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Nissan Motor, is set to expand its production plant in Sunderland, UK, as part of its GBP250m investment in the country.

The company has received planning approval for the construction work at the plant from the Sunderland City Council's Development Control Committee on 4 September 2013.

Expansion plans include addition of 25,000m2 production area, which is designed to manufacture the first ever Infiniti built in Europe. The area will will house specialist equipment in the body and final assembly areas of the production line.

According to the company, the future European production model will be based on the Q30 Concept vehicle, which will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week.

Construction work at Sunderland is due to start in the coming weeks, while the production at the plant will begin in 2015.

Once the production begins, Infiniti will become the first new car brand to be manufactured in the UK on this scale in 23 years. The company noted that it has chosen Sunderland Plant as the production location for this model due to the workforce's productivity and quality achievements over many years.

Infiniti Europe vice president Fintan Knight said that the Q30 Concept signals the next step in the company's strategy to significantly extend into new premium segments - and the production car will fully deliver on the concept's promise.

"The compact segment is crucial for our future growth plans and the decision to invest and build the vehicle in the UK further underlines our long term commitment to Europe," Knight added.

Nissan Motor UK manufacturing vice president Kevin Fitzpatrick said that the arrival of Infiniti will mark a new chapter in our operations in Sunderland.

"The Q30 Concept represents a new direction for this premium segment and for the Infiniti brand. Equally, this expansion reflects how Infiniti production will enhance manufacturing capability not only in our operations but throughout our supply chain," Fitzpatrick added.

This expansion comes after Sunderland was named as the biggest UK car factory of all time by surpassing 500,000 vehicles built in 2012.