15 years ago MG Rover closed its doors. Thousands of people lost their jobs overnight.
People were promised that the area would be regenerated and jobs created there. And it started to happen. We saw the new town centre, college and office buildings. But still 15 years on and 150 acres remain empty.
The potential for this land is great and could result in thousands of jobs. But, for this to happen investment is needed.
St Modwen, the landowners and developers, have an ambitious plan for it but it can only be unlocked with support.
That is what I have been working with St Modwen and our Mayor Andy Street to achieve by lobbying the Government for the money needed to unlock this land.
We’ve done this through the West Midlands Combined Authority with a bid into the Urban Transformation Fund, a competition run by the Government.
This money will help clean up the land, lay the groundworks, and make it a viable site for development.
If successful, this will mean spades are in the ground by easter next year, starting to turn around our local fortunes.
This isn’t just about Longbridge. It’s about South Birmingham. If successful this will help Northfield too by providing more high skilled jobs for local people and by increasing footfall to our local businesses.
My office and myself are in weekly contact with the developer to assist in any way we can. I have had meetings with the Mayor and Government Ministers, as well as raising the matter whenever I see them, to make the case for why they need to pick Longbridge in the Urban Transformation Fund.
A local Labour Councillor commented that he saw these plans over a year ago, and this was always going to go ahead. St Modwen has had these plans in the pipeline, but what they didn’t have was the investment to do the brownfield remediation and ground works. So unlike some, I wasn’t going to be an armchair critic, I got stuck in and helped in any way I could to support the bids we have now to try and get this work done. It’s a shame some of our local Labour Councillors are not getting behind this bid which will be transformative for our area.
Supporting Ex MG Rover Workers:
Some people have asked what I have been doing for Ex MG Rover workers as well. I have had number meetings with PWC, the liquidators, and have been applying pressure to try get things moving. My most recent meeting was very promising. I have also met with the Secretary of State for Business regarding this matter.
Due to the nature of the details if people affected email me on Gary.Sambrook.mp@parliament.uk I am more than happy to keep you up to date with any developments. Alternatively, there is an Ex MG Rover employee Facebook group which I post updates in when I have them.
