ST. MODWEN APPOINTS LONGBRIDGE TOWN CENTRE PROPERTY MANAGER
Leading regeneration specialist St. Modwen has appointed a manager to oversee the launch of the £70 million new Longbridge town centre and maintain the development as a thriving commercial, leisure and retail destination.
Andrea Bolton has now been promoted to Longbridge Property Manager and will have the responsibility for the new town centre, together with the Technology Park, Cofton Centre, Park View residential scheme and the management of future developments.
Previously Andrea was manager of the Innovation Centre at Longbridge Technology Park which was built in 2007 as one of the first phases of St. Modwen’s £1 billion regeneration of the former MG Rover works. She oversaw the fit out of the Centre and developed it into a flourishing new business environment offering office space solutions for technology-based enterprises.
Andrea’s promotion comes with the appointment of a number of staff in preparation for the construction of the new town centre, which commences in the next few weeks. They include James Teal, who has been promoted to Innovation Centre Manager following his role as Assistant Innovation Centre Manager at the Technology Park.
Andrea said she was delighted with her new role: “It’s a huge honour to be appointed Longbridge Property Manager. As part of the wider Longbridge team, I will be responsible for the operation of the estate, including marketing, maintenance, tenant liaison, procurement, facilities management and general administration.
“Our first priorities are the smooth delivery of the exciting new town centre and attracting a good mix of local and national retailers and occupiers, ensuring Longbridge becomes a major commercial, leisure and retail destination that will transform the area.”
Mike Murray, St. Modwen Senior Development Surveyor at Longbridge, said: “I’m pleased to welcome Andrea to the very important role of Longbridge Property Manager and am confident that she and the team will successfully deliver this vibrant new town centre development that will create a new heart for the community and provide an important economic boost to the area.”
Longbridge town centre is set to generate more than 1,000 new jobs and will feature an 85,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s, a 75-bed hotel which is now under offer, 24 new shops and restaurants, offices and car parking, all of which are scheduled for completion in 2013.
Central to the town centre will be the two acre Austin Park which will lead to the opening up of the River Rea for the first time in 100 years. The development will also create new access roads and improvements to the local road network.
The opening of the town centre brings the total investment in Longbridge up to £250 million. This investment has already created 1,160 permanent jobs at Longbridge through the development of the Technology Park, Cofton Centre and the £66 million new Bournville College, which opened in September 2011. The first 113 new homes are already being delivered at Longbridge in partnership with the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
The regeneration of Longbridge is a £1 billion project covering 468 acres. It aspires to create 10,000 jobs through a diverse range of industries, together with 2,000 new homes, the new town centre, parks and public open spaces.
