WORK has started on the £20million infrastructure works needed to transform Longbridge’s iconic 75-acre West Works.
It is the final part of the former car plant to be developed as part of the £1billion regeneration of Longbridge.
The West Works site will be transformed into the Longbridge Business Park which will use 900,000sq ft worth of commercial space to create 5,000 jobs, along with a 350-home residential neighbourhood.
St Modwen is working in partnership with West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and this key milestone follows the recent announcement of a £6million grant from the WMCA to unlock the West Works scheme.
Longbridge Business Park will provide a home for advanced manufacturing, high tech, research and development and health and science firms.
The first phase of works is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Rob Flavell, St Modwen’s Midlands and North senior director for regeneration, the site was a vital part of the Longbridge town centre regeneration and ‘to see the spades in the ground’ was a huge milestone.
He added the plans signified St Modwen’s key objectives – to create an amazing place with modern working environments, high quality homes and attractive public spaces which would bring wide ranging benefits to those living in, working in or visiting the area.
“We’ve already been receiving strong enquiries from high-quality, renowned businesses for the commercial spaces and we’re looking forward to working with prospective occupiers to create environments which will produce jobs for local people and contributions to the local economy.”
Andy Street, recently re-elected as West Midlands Mayor, added: “One of my election pledges was to create 100,000 new jobs for the region over the next two years, and regeneration of derelict industrial sites is going to be critical to achieving that.
“That’s why we are using the money we have secured from Government to transform sites like Longbridge West Works into thriving new workplaces and communities.”
He added the region had been hit hard by the pandemic but developing brownfield sites, such as the iconic West Works, would create new modern industrial spaces and thousands of jobs, helping to recapture pre-pandemic success. This, he said, would drive economic recovery and benefit communities and the environment in the process.
Improvement works include a new green way along a one mile stretch of the River Rea, allowing the waterway to be opened up to the public via new footpaths and cycle routes, connecting West Longbridge with the town centre and Rubery.
Visit longbridgebirmingham.co.uk for more.
