“The area feels depressed since losing the Rover plant. With generations of my family working there, we were proud of it. We need to build an area to be proud of” (Former car worker)
“We need jobs to offer a future for the area… prospects and training for the younger generation are desperately needed” (Local resident)
“Ensure there are high quality facilities to give the local population something to do as well as attracting outside business and thus raising the economy of the area, whilst preserving the historic beauty of the environment” (Local resident)
2.0 The Longbridge car plant was once the heart of a vibrant community employing up to 21,000 skilled men and women in the 1960s. It is clear from the range of comments and depth of feeling expressed by local people that many would like Longbridge to once again form the heart of the local community.
2.1 This community aspiration is captured in the shared vision for Longbridge:
2.2 ‘Longbridge will undergo major transformational change redeveloping the former car plant and surrounding area into an exemplar sustainable, employment led mixed use development for the benefit of the local community, Birmingham, Bromsgrove, the region and beyond. It will deliver new jobs, houses, community, leisure and educational facilities as well as providing an identifiable and accessible new heart for the area. All development will embody the principles of sustainability, sustainable communities and inclusiveness. At the heart of the vision is a commitment to high quality design that can create a real sense of place with a strong identity and distinctive character. All of this will make it a place where people will want to live, work, visit and invest and which provides a secure and positive future for local people’.
2.3 Following extensive consultation on this vision and how best to achieve it, five integrated transformational themes and 14 detailed objectives have emerged.
2.4 The transformational vision for Longbridge is underpinned by five themes:
1. Sustainable Development - the creation of an urban eco-centre with buildings built to excellent sustainability standards, accessible good quality public transport, green spaces and corridors and strong inclusive communities.
2. High Quality Places for All - the development of interesting, exciting and stimulating buildings and public spaces, which make the most of natural features and are well connected to surrounding areas.
3. Economic Transformation - the development of a range of employment opportunities across the site including protecting existing employment and establishing a Regional Investment Site (RIS), which is attractive to high profile regional, national and international investors, and has a major role to play in attracting high technology businesses.
4. A New Heart for Longbridge - the development of a new mixed use local centre in which people want to live, work and invest.
5. Homes for the Future - the creation of well designed sustainable homes and neighbourhoods, which cater for a wide range of households.
2.5 Objective 1: To establish sustainable communities, which embody the principles of sustainable development and meet current and future social, economic and environmental needs in a balanced and integrated way.
2.6 The creation of sustainable communities is at the heart of national, regional and local policy making (Planning Policy Statement 1-Delivering Sustainable Development; Regional Spatial Strategy for the West Midlands RSS11 and Birmingham, Worcestershire and Bromsgrove’s Community Strategies). Sustainable development is about ensuring that communities support and develop certain positive sustainability values and priorities, which people perpetuate for the benefit of future generations. This is about social, economic and physical sustainability and the creation of places where people want to live and work with the right balance and mix of uses, an attractive package of amenities and services, networks of attractive green spaces and good quality public transport. It is also about ensuring accessible local employment and business opportunities and the development of places that are well designed, safe and secure, with tolerance, respect and a sense of community identity and belonging, helping to deliver Birmingham and Bromsgrove’s commitment to a low carbon economy. This objective is at the heart of all the AAP proposals.
2.7 Objective 2: To be at the forefront of sustainable development with commercial buildings, community facilities and housing which showcase excellence in all aspects of environmental sustainability. A key aim is to achieve carbon neutral standards within the lifespan of the scheme.
2.8 This objective addresses key requirements of the Regional Spatial Strategy, Birmingham’s Climate Change Strategy and various Community Strategies. It seeks to ensure that development meets the highest possible sustainability standards and in particular that:
2.9 Objective 3: To establish a rich tapestry of quality connected open spaces, and river corridors across the Longbridge development, which provide for visual amenity, recreational use, nature conservation and address flood risk requirements across the plan area, and to protect and enhance the historic environment.
2.10 Quality open spaces can contribute towards enhancing the natural and built environment and overall attractiveness of an area. This objective recognises the opportunity to open up the River Rea and River Arrow through the AAP area, address flooding issues and help conserve assets. It also recognises the need to enhance existing open spaces and provide new spaces, which make the most of natural features, contain a high degree of nature conservation value and are well connected to surrounding areas. This objective also seeks to increase, protect and enhance the existing ecological and landscape assets within and around the AAP area as well as recognise the historic and archaeological value of features within and near the site.
2.11 This objective stems from the requirements of the Birmingham Unitary Development Plan, Bromsgrove District Local Plan, the Sustainable Management of Urban Rivers and Floodplains SPD and the requirements of PPS25 (Development and Flood Risk). It is also clear from public consultation on the draft AAP that an improved environment and the opening up of the River Rea and River Arrow are key priorities.
2.12 Objective 4: To implement an integrated and sustainable transport infrastructure strategy for Longbridge, which secures appropriate investment in key public transport improvements and road infrastructure and supports the effective management of sustainable travel patterns across the site.
2.13 This objective recognises the need for the AAP to address the key strategic proposals for improved public transport infrastructure set out in the UDP and LTPs including a Strategic Park and Ride facility and improved connectivity of the site with Birmingham City Centre and Frankley. Longbridge is also an exciting opportunity to create a community which champions healthy living by avoiding unnecessary car use and provides good quality alternatives. The AAP sets ambitious targets to achieve a significantly higher proportion of journeys on foot, by cycle and by public transport and to support this it proposes excellent infrastructure to encourage walking and cycling as well as ease of access to a high quality network of public transport to and throughout the site.
2.14 Objective 5: To implement a comprehensive programme of management for the development including a local centre management programme, as well as the effective management of open spaces, and the public realm.
2.15 This objective recognises the role of town or local centre management in supporting the development and ensuring economic sustainability of Longbridge Centre as a destination for shopping and leisure. Local centre management also recognises the shared partnership responsibility of maintaining the economic vitality and sustainability of the area.
2.16 This objective also recognises the need for the management of the development as a whole including public open spaces, the public realm and other facilities open to the public within the development to ensure that they remain attractive, safe, secure and well maintained.
2.17 Objective 6: To achieve excellence in design through the creation of high quality developments and design that helps create a real sense of place with buildings, streets, spaces, features and facilities of which people are justifiably proud.
2.18 This objective stems from the requirements in Birmingham UDP and Community Strategy. It was also a key finding of the consultation. Local people wanted to see new development and investment, which created a sense of pride in the area.
2.19 Good design with an emphasis on place-making has measurable value and benefits. Places that are safe, attractive, comfortable, distinctive, stimulating and varied attract people and investment into an area. Mixed-use developments have the potential to reduce opportunities for crime and vandalism and meet a variety of demands from the widest possible range of users and social groups. Attractive and safe open spaces encourage leisure activities and contribute to healthy lifestyles. Developments that have a good quality network of streets and that have good physical connections with surrounding areas encourage walking, cycling and improved access to public transport. Place-making is therefore central to the vision for Longbridge. The AAP proposes the application of fresh thinking on design and creative approaches to the built form, public open spaces, landscaping, natural features and movement options.
2.20 Objective 7: To support the continued development of Longbridge as a regional investment location for industry and employment, securing economic diversification and business growth, providing 10,000 jobs, protecting existing employment and providing a long-term sustainable job environment.
2.21 This objective supports the policy in the RSS, UDP and Regional Economic Strategy of securing diversification in the region’s economy, maintaining employment land and supporting the A38 High Technology Corridor. The creation of employment opportunities and the target of 10,000 jobs were also strongly supported during the public consultation on the plan.
2.22 The Longbridge site is critical to the success of the city’s and region’s economic growth and investment agenda. There is a need for a rich variety of employment opportunities within the AAP area and across many sectors, including high technology, finance, professional services, retailing, education and leisure to help diversify the local economy. There is also a need to protect and promote existing industrial operations (e.g. Nanjing and the Cofton Centre). The economic potential of micro and home-based businesses to the economy of the West Midlands should also be recognised.
2.23 Objective 8: To support the protection of land for general industrial uses including the Nanjing Automotive Corporation site and the Cofton Centre.
2.24 Nanjing Automotive Corporation (NAC) has a long lease on a 44 hectare site and has resumed production of the MG TF sports car (3).
2.25 During consultation on the emerging AAP the Corporation said it is keen to make full use of the prominent research and development and specialised automotive skills to be found in the West Midlands Region, as well as being part of the wider revitalised Longbridge community. NAC is keen to ensure the continued use of the site for car assembly and manufacturing and that uses adjoining their boundary are compatible with their operations. NAC does however recognise that land may become surplus to their requirements during the early stages of the AAP.
2.26 Objective 9: The development of a 25 hectare Regional Investment Site (RIS) which is attractive to high profile regional, national and international investors as well as a major location for high technology businesses.
2.27 This objective is in line with the West Midlands Economic Strategy (WMES) Objectives 2.1 (Birmingham Competing as a Global City) and 2.3 (Sustainable Management and Utilisation of Land and Property Assets) as well as policy in the Regional Spatial Strategy to provide a RIS in the A38 High Technology Corridor. The RlS has a major medium and longterm role to play in the restructuring of the West Midlands economy, helping create a more flexible and competitive economy and employing higher skilled and paid people.
2.28 Longbridge presents a unique opportunity in the West Midlands for a high quality RIS development in a sustainable location within an urban area close to public transport (rail and bus) and with easy access to a large potential workforce and a wide range of shops and services in the form of a new local centre.
2.29 Objective 10: To ensure that employment opportunities are accessible to all and assist in securing the provision of employment and training opportunities for local residents, with no investment being lost for the lack of suitably qualified and skilled people.
2.30 In parts of Birmingham and Bromsgrove, people face barriers to employment, such as limited childcare, low skills or lack of work experience. Local employers have reported various skills gaps, which can have a detrimental impact on businesses including higher costs or more limited output and growth.
2.31 It was also clear from consultation with the local community that re-skilling, training and linking suitably skilled local people to job opportunities were important priorities. It is therefore important that a range of measures is put in place to enable local people to successfully compete for new employment opportunities at Longbridge. At a strategic level, this objective is also supported through a number of WMES Strategic Objectives, including 3.3 (Driving up Ambition and Aspiration), 3.4 (Skills for Employment & Enterprise) and 1.6 (Stimulating Employer Investment in Skills & Training).
2.32 Objective 11: To support a local culture of enterprise, entrepreneurial activity, innovation and sustainable business growth and development.
2.33 Small business and enterprise activity are often viable and sustainable routes out of unemployment and underemployment. Local small businesses and self-employed people support wealth creation and help retain wealth within an area. An accessible business advice service, premises for start-ups and small businesses and a viable trading environment are important factors in helping small firms.
2.34 The Longbridge development has already made a positive step in supporting young and new technologybased businesses through the development of an Innovation Centre but there is a need for further measures to develop and support local enterprise, including affordable, flexible business space. This business objective is also supported through the WMES Strategic Objectives 1.3 (Creating Economically Sustainable New Businesses) and 1.8 (Stimulating Innovation, Creativity and Knowledge Generation).
2.35 Objective 12: To create a sustainable mixed-use centre for Longbridge, which meets local needs by providing a range of quality retail, commercial, leisure, education and residential uses and establishes a distinctive sense of place and heart for the community.
2.36 The consultation with the local community showed that the establishment of a new local centre at Longbridge is a critical step in breathing new life back into the area. This centre is also a rare opportunity to build on the best of the past in terms of community, culture, heritage and enterprise. This Objective is also supported through various strategic objectives in the WMES including 2.5 (Developing Sustainable Communities) and 2.6 (Regenerating our Most Deprived Communities).
2.37 Developing flourishing neighbourhoods where local people have easy access to shops and services is a key strand of the Birmingham, Worcestershire and Bromsgrove Community Strategies. There is a need to meet a gap in retail provision in the Longbridge area and serve new employment sites including the RIS.
2.38 A new local centre could provide a wide range of uses and a real focal point for living, shopping and access to local services and facilities in a sustainable way. Of particular importance are:
2.39 Objective 13: To deliver a minimum of 1,450 new dwellings to help meet existing and future housing needs and to create a sustainable mixed-use community.
2.40 In terms of housing, although a significant proportion of the Longbridge site falls within Bromsgrove District, the whole site is viewed as functionally part of the Regional Spatial Strategy’s major urban area and Birmingham City. One of the key visions for Birmingham is the continued development of a growing global city. The Regional Spatial Strategy also sets out targets for population growth. This population increase will also be matched with increased investment and new economic opportunities. The Longbridge site presents a significant opportunity to contribute towards this economic and population vision.
2.41 The AAP area has the potential to provide a minimum of 1450 units on a variety of sites each with significant potential to develop real communities and places of distinction. This means paying particular attention to pedestrian, cycle and public transport; to high quality sustainable building design, open space, and integrated community facilities and infrastructure (including health, educational and leisure facilities).
2.42 Objective 14: New homes will provide a mix of type, size and tenure including affordable housing, high-density layout appropriate to the location of the site and be designed to highest standards. The aim is to achieve carbon neutral standards within the lifespan of the scheme, and where appropriate, to achieve lifetime homes standards.
2.43 This objective is in line with government policies and community strategies.
2.44 The provision of new homes at Longbridge will aim for diversity rather than uniformity, with proposals for an inclusive mix and range of housing types (including family and young persons’ accommodation, as well as provision for senior housing, incorporating where possible extra care facilities) and tenures (including open market, social rented and shared equity properties). The provision of affordable housing has a key role to play at Longbridge through:
2.45 The AAP area is suitable for highdensity development in line with its location close to public transport. There are also opportunities to integrate housing within high quality mixed-use developments.
2.46 The AAP also provides the potential for improving the design of homes with high sustainability standards (including efficient use of resources such as building materials, energy, waste and water) and Lifetime Homes Standard, (allowing homes to be accessible for all).
3. In January 2009 Nanjing Automotive Corporation MG Ltd changed its name to MG Motor UK Ltd.
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