Work has started on 688 new homes in Longbridge, in south west Birmingham - twenty years on from the closure of the old MG Rover works on the site.
Birmingham’s leaders joined Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, to celebrate the start of work to build 688 new homes, along with Vistry’s partners, Bromford and Sigma.
Michael Moore, managing director of Vistry North West Midlands, said: “This is an important development that will contribute to Birmingham’s economic growth by providing new jobs and high-quality places to live.
"Like many major cities, Birmingham has a severe shortage of affordable homes; that’s something we’re aiming to address by going the extra mile to deliver affordable and social rent homes over and above what is required of us and delivering them at pace.
"We're also proud of the sustainability of the homes we’ll be providing, with features and construction methods that reduce their impact on the environment and will lower energy bills for future residents.”
The factory will be making way for much needed homes for the city with Vistry working with Bromford - one of the UK’s largest housing associations - to deliver 250 of the homes, ensuring that more than 40% of the development will be offered in affordable tenures, against a 20% local policy requirement.
Sigma Capital Group, one of the leading providers of build-to-rent properties, has joined the Vistry partnership to take on 215 private rental properties. The remaining 197 will be available on the open market, and the final 26 will be offered as First Homes, ensuring the development offers a broad range of housing choices.
The scheme will also stimulate economic growth through on-site employment, as well as providing further benefits for the local community with designated spaces for community uses and public open space.
Laurence Turner, MP for Northfield, said: “The redevelopment of one of the final parts of the Austin site comes at a symbolic moment – twenty years on from the collapse of MG Rover. It is positive that the symbolism of the site will be retained with the preservation of the industrial heritage.
"There is a real need for affordable and high quality homes in south Birmingham, built with as much UK material as possible. I will work with the partnership to make sure that as many local people benefit as possible as the site enters this new chapter in its history.”
Cllr Jayne Francis, cabinet member for housing and homelessness at Birmingham City Council, said: “It has been great to visit the Longbridge site and see the progress made in readying the site for the planned houses.
“This is a much-needed initiative supported by Birmingham City Council and our partners, to provide more affordable housing across the city. The construction plans focus on building affordable and high quality homes, creating new jobs and driving greater economic growth in the area while limiting damage to the local environment.
“Twenty years after the closure of MG Rover site, construction on this site represents the beginning of a new community, interlinked with the city’s industrial history, and so, I am pleased to be supporting the scheme and the benefits it will bring to the residents of South Birmingham”.
John McAuliffe, group CEO of McAuliffe Group, said: “This is a brownfield site with a strong local history for us, so it’s a real pleasure to be involved in its regeneration. Sustainability is a core focus of this project. We have already begun an extensive programme of earthworks and will treat and re-use as much material as possible onsite.”
