Description:
Former MG Rover car manufacturing facility, comprising 468 acres near Junction 4 M5
Date Acquired:
2001 – Selected as development partner for 54 acres of surplus land initially by MG Rover, subsequently by Advantage West Midlands (AWM)
2003 – Acquired 228 acres of operational facilities
2004 – Acquired remaining 186 acres, including 126 acres of agricultural land.
Nanjing Automobile Corporation has acquired certain assets of the MG Rover business and took over the 33 year residue of the lease on 105 acres of the South works.
Current Status:
Longbridge Technology Park
The £100 million Longbridge Technology Park represents the first major step towards positioning Longbridge as the Midland's leading centre for technology and innovation. It is already attracting many local, national and start-up technology-based businesses to the area.
The Innovation Centre and the adjacent Two Devon Way are the first two new office buildings to be completed on the 40 acre Technology Park.
Completed in June 2007, the 45,000 sq ft Innovation Centre presents an innovative solution for start-up and medium-sized businesses. Office suites range from 200 sq ft upwards, and the Innovation Centre also offers a full range of business support services, dedicated meeting and conferencing facilities and virtual offices.
The neighbouring 31,208 sq ft Two Devon Way building has been designed for medium to larger technology-based and expanding companies, offering equally high quality office accommodation in large open-plan floor space.
A further two buildings are already planned for the Technology Park: Three Devon Way, a 25,000 sq ft building with 90 car parking spaces and Five Devon Way, a 15,000 sq ft building with 60 car parking spaces.
Cofton Centre
The Cofton Centre is a 35 acre, self contained, secure estate and forms an integral part Longbridge. The first new industrial warehouse units were completed in July 2008, offering two buildings of 27,093 sq ft and 47,780 sq ft, unit 3 has been let to IT Fleet Solutions. Outline planning consent is also in place for further design and build opportunities on land adjacent for units ranging from 30,000 to 225,000 sq ft
Remediation
More than five million square feet of the massive Longbridge site has already been cleared by St Modwen. The company is working closely with the Environment Agency to ensure the former industrial site is fully remediated to allow the area to be completely transformed into a prosperous mixed-use development.
An extensive six month investigation and ground clearing programme is currently under way at Longbridge West, which fronts the A38 Bristol Road South. This activity will see more than 200,000 cubic metres of soil cleaned across the 17 acre site.
Area Action Plan and Planning Applications
Prepared jointly by Birmingham City and Bromsgrove District Councils in partnership with Advantage West Midlands, St Modwen and Worcestershire County Council, the Longbridge Area Action Plan (LAAP) was submitted to Government last March 2008 ahead of a formal Examination in Public held in October and December 2008.
On 12th February 2009, a central government Planning Inspector gave approval to the LAAP which allows St Modwen to forge ahead with the £1 billion regeneration project.
The Plan is the outcome of intensive consultation with the local community and work with stakeholders. The Inspector welcomed the collaborative work that had been carried out during preparation of the plan from the earliest stages between the local authorities, and major landowners together with transport bodies and other interests. She stated, “The parties should be commended for their approach.”
The LAAP now paves the way for the Councils’ to approve the four major planning applications that St Modwen submitted in May 2008.
The planning applications which cover Longbridge North, Longbridge West and Longbridge East, together with improvements to the A38, respond to the Longbridge Area Action Plan (LAAP) and will be determined later this year. The submission of the planning applications provides a clear statement of intent, showing the scale and ambition of what Advantage West Midlands and St Modwen expect to deliver over the next 15 years highlighting the level of commitment and continued investment into Longbridge.
Our Vision:
The £1 billion Longbridge scheme is one of the largest regeneration projects in the West Midlands. Once the home to the iconic Mini, the area is now set to enter an exciting new era. The pioneering vision for Longbridge includes the creation of 10,000 new jobs and more than 2,000 new homes alongside quality public realm and access to excellent transport links, all of which will establish Longbridge as a truly mixed use model of sustainability.
Ownership:
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