"10,000 NEW JOBS" ON REVAMPED LONGBRIDGE SITE

21-05-2008

Ten thousand jobs could be created on the former Rover site at Longbridge, following the submission of four major planning applications today. Northfield MP Richard Burden has welcomed the move – but wants a new fund created to give local residents an independent voice in the development.

The regeneration includes nothing that hasn’t already been discussed on this site and elsewhere – a new learning quarter anchored by the relocated Bournville College, three new parks, a shopping centre, offices and close on 2,000 new homes.

Developers St Modwen will be working with Advantage West Midlands to create sustainable manufacturing and research jobs jobs on the 468 acre site, which runs next to the designated A38 “hi-tech” corridor.

There’s no doubt that this is a major milestone for a community still recovering from the closure of the MG Rover plant in 2005.

MP Burden, whose constituency covers most of the site welcomed the scheme, but now wants to ensure that local residents are properly involved in fleshing out the detail

"Overall the broad vision is good, but we have to and see what the details are and what that means in practice" he said.

"We need to make sure that local people aren't just consulted but actively given a say in the process.

"That means setting up a properly-funded Trust that they control, and which allows them to have an independent voice."

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