The mixed 聽commercial, leisure and retail development will be anchored by an 85,000 sq ft Sainsbury鈥檚 supermarket, a 75-bed hotel which is now under offer, 24 shops and restaurants, offices and car parking, all of which are scheduled for completion in 2013.
Central to the scheme 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.
St. Modwen construction manager Mark Batchelor said: 鈥淭he town centre will play a key role in the transformation of the former MG Rover Works. Along with the recently opened Bournville College, 113 houses and apartments being constructed at the Park View scheme and the new 鈥榤yplace鈥� youth centre, Longbridge is fast establishing itself as a vibrant community.鈥�
Mike Murray, senior development surveyor at St Modwen, said the development of Longbridge town centre marked a major milestone in the 拢1bn regeneration scheme of the former MG Rover site. 鈥淲ith Sainsbury鈥檚 already signed up to take the foodstore and many discussions taking place with other national and local retailers and occupiers, Longbridge is set to be a major commercial, leisure and retail聽 destination that will transform the area,鈥� he said.
Morgan Sindall is already building Birmingham City Council鈥檚 鈥榤yplace鈥� youth centre at Longbridge. That three-storey building is scheduled to open this summer.
Morgan Sindall area manager Julian Price said: 鈥淟ongbridge is a transformational regeneration project which will deliver a new heart for the town centre. We鈥檙e looking forward to building on our strong relationship with St Modwen and Birmingham City Council through our work on the new 鈥榤yplace鈥� centre and this next phase in what is a very important project for the area.鈥�
The opening of the town centre will bring St Modwen鈥檚 investment at Longbridge up to 拢250m since its acquisition of the site in 2003.
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