Plans for almost 700 homes on part of the former MG Rover site in Longbridge

PART of the former MG Rover site in Longbridge has been taken over by Britain’s largest housebuilder, which wants to build up to 695 homes.

Vistry is working with affordable housing developer Bromford, which will purchase 250 of the proposed homes, ensuring more than 35 per cent of the properties will be affordable. This is more than the 20 per cent required under Birmingham City Council’s planning policy.

The housing association would make 132 of these homes available for social rent under planning permission, with an additional 118 available on a part-let and part-purchase basis under the Bromford shared ownership scheme.

A further 209 properties will be put on the market for private rent and the remaining 236 homes will be put on the open market for private ownership.

The offer will include one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as larger family homes with two, three and four bedrooms.

The houses would be equipped with air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels and wastewater recovery, which would minimize water consumption.

The homes will be manufactured off-site using open panel timber construction from Vistry Works East Midlands factory in Leicestershire.

“High quality, sustainable and eco-friendly”

Phil McHugh, managing director of Vistry North West Midlands, said: “We are thrilled to have acquired this site and to work with Bromford on this exciting project, which will contribute to Birmingham’s economic growth by providing new jobs and high-quality places to live.

“Like many large cities, Birmingham faces a serious shortage of affordable homes. We are working to address this by making every effort to deliver affordable and social rental homes that exceed our requirements and deliver them at pace.”

He added that the company is also extremely proud of the durability of the homes it will offer along with features and construction methods that reduce environmental impact and lower energy bills for future residents.

Alice Phillips, regional development manager at Bromford, said: “Working with Vistry to bring new, affordable homes to Birmingham as part of the Longbridge redevelopment is a great opportunity for us.

“Thanks to the work already carried out at Longbridge and all that is planned for the coming years, our future clients will have great prospects of living, working and developing in these new homes and community.”

She added that the homes would be among the most energy efficient Bromford has built in the West Midlands.

A reserved matters planning application has been submitted with a decision notice expected to be issued shortly.