MG Rover site work starts on building new Longbridge homes

Leaders joined Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, to celebrate the start of work to build 688 new homes in Longbridge, along with Vistry’s partners, Bromford and Sigma.

The factory will be making way for much needed homes for the area with Vistry working with Bromford, one of the UK’s largest housing associations, to deliver 250 of the homes, ensuring that more than 40 per cent of the development will be offered in affordable tenures, against a 20 per cent local policy requirement.

Michael Moore, managing director of Vistry North West Midlands, said: "This is an important development that will contribute to economic growth by providing new jobs and high-quality places to live.

"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."

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 homes will be built with a focus on sustainability, featuring air source heat pumps and PV panels for renewable electricity, whilst wastewater recovery systems will minimise water usage.

The properties will be manufactured off-site using open panel timber frames from the Vistry Works East Midlands factory in Leicestershire.

Each home built using these panels emits 14,460kg CO2e less than a traditional brick-and-block house.

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.

MP for Northfield Laurence Turner 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. 

"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.”

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."