Work begins on 688 homes at former MG Rover Site in Longbridge
Construction has officially begun on a major new housing development in Longbridge, South West Birmingham – 20 years after the closure of the MG Rover car plant on the same site.
The project will deliver 688 new homes and marks a step in regenerating one of the last remaining parts of the historic Longbridge factory grounds.
It is being delivered by Vistry Group in partnership with housing association Bromford and build-to-rent specialists Sigma Capital Group.
More than 40% of the homes will be offered as affordable housing thanks to Bromford’s delivery of 250 properties for affordable rent and shared ownership.
Sigma will provide 215 homes for private rent, while 197 will be sold on the open market and 26 will be made available through the government’s First Homes scheme.
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… We’re also proud of the sustainability of the homes we’ll be providing.”
Homes in the development will feature air-source heat pumps, PV panels for renewable electricity, and water-saving systems.
Construction will use open-panel timber frames manufactured off-site, significantly reducing the carbon footprint compared to traditional builds.
Cllr Jayne Francis, Cabinet Member for Housing & 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 whilst limiting damage to the local environment. 20 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”.
