Longbridge £70m redevelopment plan submitted

The proposed regeneration project includes a supermarket, shops and restaurants

Part of Birmingham could undergo a £70m transformation, which could create more than 600 jobs.

St. Modwen Properties Plc and partner Advantage West Midlands have submitted plans to Birmingham City Council to redevelop Longbridge.

The application includes a supermarket, shops, restaurants, a hotel, 40 apartments, a two-acre park, car parks and roads.

Construction should start in the summer of 2011 if the scheme is approved.

'Major milestone'

A spokesman for the developers said negotiations were "well advanced" for the sale of the supermarket and pre-lettings of the retail space and hotel.

The scheme is linked to the redevelopment of the nearby MG Rover site.

The spokesman said: "Once complete, the town centre will establish a new heart for the community and a focal point for the regeneration of the former MG Rover works at Longbridge.

"The project will provide an important economic boost to the area and create a diverse range of employment opportunities, potentially creating over 600 jobs."

Bill Oliver, chief executive of St. Modwen, said: "The submission of a planning application for the new town centre at Longbridge is a major milestone in the evolution of this project.

"It underlines our expertise in taking on large scale regeneration projects and provides a clear indication that 2011 will be one of the most active years yet for this important scheme."