Birmingham 'betrayed' by Longbridge revamp

Jan 2 2008 By Paul Dale, Birmingham Post

Plans to transform the former MG Rover site at Longbridge into a £500 million mini-town with 1,400 houses, a shopping centre and a science park have been condemned as a "betrayal of everything Birmingham stands for".

The criticism came from Northfield Labour Party official and former regeneration cabinet member Andrew Coulson, who accused the city council leadership of breaking a promise made when Rover collapsed in 2005 to use the land as a centre for manufacturing.

Under a scheme drawn up by Birmingham City Council, Worcestershire County Council, Bromsgrove Council and landowners St Modwen, fewer than 3,000 manufacturing jobs and 2,759 high-tech jobs will be created over a 15-year period.

The remaining employment will be in the retail, office, distribution and warehousing sectors, bringing the total number of jobs to 10,000.

Housing, a new village centre for Longbridge and a superstore form the heart of the plans, which were launched by city council leader Mike Whitby last month.

Coun Whitby (Con Harborne) said the proposals would reinvigorate Longbridge's industrial heritage.

But Mr Coulson claimed the scheme was driven by short-term profit-making and he urged St Modwen to reconsider.

He added: "There is nothing original, no long-term vision. Nothing which uses the unique opportunities offered by a large area of brownfield land.

"The current plans demonstrate what happens when profit is king. They are a betrayal of everything Birmingham stands for - and at this time of goodwill St Modwen should withdraw these plans, and come back with imaginative ideas that will keep Birmingham great for at least the next 50 years.

"If it refuses to do so, the city council should refuse to accept them until such time as the commitment to use most of this unique site for manufacturing is reinstated."