This will mark the beginning of the next stage in the £1bn, 15-year redevelopment of the former Longbridge car plant near Birmingham.
The 468-acre former MG Rover site was bought by St Modwen in 2003, on which it is building 2,000 new homes together with employment and retail facilities.
The second stage of the development will include one of the biggest Marks & Spencer stores in the UK, as the developer has pre-let a 150,000 sq ft store for a period of 45 years.
The developer is going to submit the amended planning application for the new store alongside 45,000 sq ft of extra retail units plus a surface and multi-storey car park.
The developer said: “Subject to planning, works to the second phase of the Town Centre will start on site in mid-2014 with the new Marks & Spencer anticipated to open for trading by Christmas 2015.”
Bill Oliver, Chief Executive of St. Modwen, commented: “To date, St. Modwen has created over 3,500 jobs on site at Longbridge.
“The addition of Marks & Spencer to the scheme, which will underpin the delivery of phase two of the new Town Centre, illustrates further how our transformational regeneration projects can encourage investment and serve as true catalysts for change, as well as creating substantial value for our shareholders.”
Since 2007, after an extensive remediation programme, St Modwen has made following significant achievements:
- built more than 150,000 sq ft of office and industrial space at Longbridge, of which 95% is occupied.
- delivered the 250,000 sq ft Bournville College which opened in September 2011 and a £5m youth centre known as ‘the Factory’.
- opened the first phase of the Town Centre in August 2013, comprising an 80,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s, a 75-bedroom Premier Inn hotel, 24 shops, 35,000 sq ft of offices and the £2m Austin Park.
- is currently developing more than 450 new homes as part of the St Modwen Homes and its joint venture with Persimmon.
Photo: Construction Index
