Pictured above: (l-r) Mark Barrow from Birmingham City Council; Paul Spooner from the Homes and Communities Agency; John Dodds from St. Modwen

The first 115 homes to be built on the former Rover car plant site in Longbridge are now underway. 

Developer St. Modwen was joined by the Homes and Communities Agency and Birmingham City Council to mark this significant milestone for the city. 

The new homes, just off Lickey Road, are part of the wider £1 billion regeneration of Longbridge which involves more than 400 acres of land set to be transformed by St. Modwen on the site 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 million Bournville College, which is currently under construction, and there will be vast public open spaces and an excellent public transport network. 

These first 115 homes will comprise two, three and four bedroom houses, including a mix of terraced, semi-detached and detached designs.  Plans also include 12 two bedroom apartments, housed in a three-storey apartment building. Supported by £3.7 million of Kickstart funding from the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA), work is now underway on site with the first new homes expected to be released to the market in June 2011.

John Dodds, West Midlands regional director for St. Modwen, said: "In an economic climate which has seen developers across the UK mothballing new residential developments, St. Modwen is forging ahead with plans to create a new residential community at Longbridge with the support of the HCA. This proactive approach to development not only shows our determination to progress with revitalising this area of Birmingham, it also signals our confidence in the strength of the regional property market.

"This new development is set to boost the provision of quality new homes in Longbridge, creating a highly desirable new residential community in a prime location off Lickey Road, which is well regarded locally as the gateway to the Lickey Hills Country Park.  We believe this first phase of new homes will raise the bar for the standard of future residential development in the area and will have an impact with a range of homebuyers, tapping into the pent-up demand for well-designed properties in and around Longbridge."

Paul Spooner, director for the HCA West Midlands said: "It is fantastic to see work now starting on site here.  Longbridge has continued to be a priority for the local community and the city of Birmingham and we are delighted that our investment has enabled these first homes to get underway.  

"Our investment will also unlock the wider regeneration of the site, helping to safeguard and create jobs, complement the commercial redevelopment and support the city's overall economic growth." 

Mark Barrow, strategic director of development for Birmingham City Council, added: "That this scheme is continuing to push ahead in these difficult times is great news for the city, its people and the local economy which will support the building programme. Not only will construction of these new homes help tackle housing needs, but this project also sends out a very clear message that the city and its economy is still very much 'open for business' and seeking to pursue growth opportunities where they remain prudent and to the wider benefit."