Plans submitted for second phase of Longbridge regeneration

St Modwen plans to build a 12,512 square metre 'anchor' retail store and two car parks which would include 700 spaces. Plans for the scheme also include the reconfiguration of 4,180 sq m of retail space that has already been granted planning consent.

The first phase of the development is expected to be completed in 2013 and includes an 85,000 square feet Sainsbury's store, a 75 bedroom hotel and food stores. It also includes a new £2 million Park which covers two acres, called Austin Park. The park includes local and high street shops, office buildings and food and drink outlets.

The first phase also included the £66m Bourneville College and a £5m youth centre have both called The Factory, which have both been completed. A total of 75 per cent of new homes at the nearby St. Modwen Homes’ Park View development are also already sold.

It is hoped that the second phase of the development will help to create 200 new jobs in the area. In total the developer’s regeneration scheme for Longbridge aims to create 10,000 jobs, 2,000 new homes, the new town centre, parks and public open space.

"The plans for the second phase of the town centre will add to the facilities available for both existing and new residents and businesses," said Mike Murrray, senior development surveyor for St. Modwen, according to local reports. “More than 80% of the retail units in the first phase have been pre-let or are under offer and demand is equally strong at the Longbridge Technology Park and the Park View housing development."

“Next year’s opening of the first phase of the town centre will bring investment at Longbridge up to £250 million. This investment has already created 1,160 permanent jobs through the development of the Technology Park, Cofton Centre, and the £66 million new Bournville College which opened last September," he said.