Pictured above: CGI of Longbridge town centre
St. Modwen is inviting members of the public to a consultation
event for its proposed town centre development which forms part of
the £1billion regeneration of Longbridge.
The public consultation will be held at the Evolution Suite, the
Innovation Centre, Longbridge Technology Park, 1 Devon Way,
Longbridge, B31 2TS on Wednesday 3 November from 2pm to 8pm.
Local residents and interested parties are invited to an
exhibition where they can view the regeneration plans and provide
their feedback before a detailed planning application is submitted.
Proposals for the new Longbridge town centre include 165,000 sq ft
of retail space, which amounts to 24 new shops and restaurants and
an 85,000 sq ft foodstore. There are also plans for a hotel and 40
apartments, together with community space including four acres of
public parkland and the Austin Centre.
Proposals also include car parking provision, arrangements for
access roads into the new town centre, and continued local road
improvements. The £66 million Bournville College, which is at
the heart of the proposed town centre, is already under
construction on the site and will welcome its first students in
September 2011.
Representatives from St. Modwen will be on-hand throughout the
public consultation, together with the architects, planning
consultants, and engineers working on the project. All will be
available to answer questions relating to the new development, and
to receive comments and feedback on the proposals.
Mike Murray, senior development surveyor for St. Modwen, said:
"As we progress with the regeneration of Longbridge, St. Modwen is
preparing to submit a planning application for the new Longbridge
town centre. This follows on from previous public consultation
events and the Longbridge Area Action Plan which was adopted in
April 2009.
"We are now at the stage where our plans include much more
detail on the layout of the town centre, the individual buildings
and what they will be used for. Our aim is to create a vibrant and
exciting town centre which will benefit the community, giving local
people greater choice, better facilities and a more welcoming
environment.
"Consulting with the public is an important part of the
pre-planning process; and we therefore hope that local residents
will take this opportunity to find out more about the new
development and to provide their individual responses to the
proposals."
More than 400 acres is set to be transformed by St Modwen and
Advantage West Midlands as part of the £1 billion
regeneration of the former MG Rover works, delivering a sustainable
community with the creation of 10,000 new jobs and up to 2,000 new
homes. A new town centre will feature the new £66 Bournville
College, which is currently under construction, and there will be
vast public open spaces and an excellent public transport
network.