PART OF the former MG Rover site in Longbridge has been acquired by Britain’s biggest house builder which wants to construct up to 695 homes.
Vistry is partnering with affordable housing developer Bromford which would acquire 250 of the proposed homes, ensuring that more than 35 per cent of the properties were affordable. That is higher than the 20 per cent required under Birmingham City Council’s planning policy.
The housing association would make 132 of those homes available for social rent as part of the planning consent and an additional 118 would be available on a part-rent, part-buy basis through Bromford’s shared ownership scheme.
A further 209 properties would be put up for private rent and the remaining 236 homes would be put on the open market for private ownership.
A mix of one and two-bedroom apartments, and larger two, three and four-bedroom family houses will be offered.
Homes would feature air source heat pumps, PV panels and waste-water recovery which would minimise water usage.
The homes will be manufactured off site using open panel timber frames from the Vistry Works East Midlands factory in Leicestershire.
‘High quality, sustainable and environmentally-friendly’
Phil McHugh, Vistry North West Midlands’ managing director, said: “We are thrilled to have acquired this site and to be working with Bromford on this exciting project that will contribute to Birmingham’s economic growth by providing new jobs and high-quality places to live.
“Like many major cities, Birmingham has a severe shortage of affordable homes -that’s something we’re aiming to address by going the extra mile to deliver affordable and social rent homes over and above what is required of us and delivering them at pace.”
He added the firm was also hugely proud of the sustainability of the homes it would be providing with features and construction methods to reduce environmental impact and lowering energy bills for future residents.
Alice Phillips, Bromford’s regional development manager, said: “Working with Vistry to bring new affordable homes to Birmingham as part of the Longbridge redevelopment is a perfect opportunity for us.
“With the work that’s already taken place at Longbridge and everything that’s planned over the years ahead, our future customers will have great prospects to live, work and thrive in these new homes and community.”
She added the homes would be some of the most energy-efficient Bromford had built in the West Midlands.
A reserved matters planning application has been submitted with a decision notice due shortly.
