Former MG Rover and Vauxhall websites – Longbridge and Griffin Home respectively – are set to make means for contemporary developments
Fanatics final week mourned the lack of Longbridge (MG Rover) and Griffin Home (Vauxhall) as work started on the redevelopment of every website.
Longbridge, latterly house to MG Rover, closed in April 2005 and, regardless of a number of manufacturing restarts, ceased last meeting on automobiles in 2016. The location was regularly whittled down in measurement as marque homeowners, MG Motor UK (SAIC Motor) negotiated phrases with proprietor, St Modwen.
On October 13, the Bromsgrove Customary reported on a reserved issues planning utility by Vistry North West Midlands to construct as much as 695 homes on Longbridge’s remaining land. The previous West Works has already had a enterprise park, faculty and housing inbuilt and round the place it as soon as stood, with 27 acres handed again to the general public final month. As well as, 343 extra homes, constructed by St Modwen Properties, can even be constructed on the West Works website.
Sarwjit Sambhi, CEO of St. Modwen, added: “Having already attracted industry-leading, international companies to Longbridge Enterprise Park, we’ll shortly be delivering much-needed homes on the location which is able to depart a long-lasting legacy of our time in Longbridge.”
Vistry North West Midlands need to redevelop across the Automotive Meeting Buildings (CABs): it advised the BBC of a proposal to strip one of many constructions all the way down to its body as a part of a public park. Longbridge’s iconic Convention Centre can be used as workplace house on this proposal; extra lately, it was house to Paul Rigby Restricted’s MG dealership, which serviced and offered SAIC-made MGs.
Vistry, Britain’s largest housebuilder, is ready to construct 695 houses on the previous MG Rover website at Longbridge
Earlier this 12 months, Herbert Austin’s workplace, which had remained in situ at Longbridge till 2021, was re-opened on the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire, becoming a member of William Morris’s bureau beforehand moved from Cowley, (now MINI Plant Oxford) in 1994. Seminal prototypes, together with MGF precursors PR1 and PR3, the Rover TCV, and MG Rover RDX60, had been moved to Gaydon from Longbridge in late 2023.
Longbridge’s redevelopment is not going to have an effect on the grounds of the close by Cofton Park, house to the Delight of Longbridge (PoL) rally which, since 2006, has commemorated the automobiles and achievements of the location. Founder and organiser, Gemma Cartwright, confirmed the occasion would proceed:
“Delight of Longbride is exclusive by bringing the ex-workforce, neighborhood and fans collectively. It’ll proceed serving the neighborhood, making certain our heritage is remembered and celebrated through the small occasions by way of the 12 months and our annual gathering,” she mentioned.
Vauxhall’s legacy hasn’t fared significantly better. With 50 Heritage Assortment automobiles now on the British Motor Museum, and present information tales warning of the unsure future going through its manufacturing vegetation at Luton and Ellesmere Port, Griffin Home, its former head workplace, lastly confronted the bulldozers final week after being permitted for demolition final 12 months.
Luton’s Griffin Home is to be demolished 60 years after it first opened
The agency had vacated the three-story premises, inbuilt 1964 because the Vauxhall Engineering and Styling Centre (AJ Block), in Might 2019. A self-contained facility with studios, workshops and viewing areas, it had designed, engineered and constructed upcoming and secret Vauxhall and Bedford fashions underneath director of styling, David B Jones, for 20 years.
Having sired each manufacturing Vauxhall from 1964 onwards, it additionally gave life to the XVR, SVR and Equus idea automobiles. Additional integration into GM Europe modified its priorities; Vauxhall ultimately misplaced its design autonomy by 1983 and Griffin Home turned Vauxhall’s headquarters in 1991.
Final 12 months, Caroline Musker, Head of Planning at Prologis UK, advised Bedfordshire Dwell: “The regeneration of Griffin Home and the BWI Group website right into a high-quality logistics and enterprise park will ship roughly 450 new jobs and important funding for Luton, alongside a brand new expertise and coaching facility to assist native folks wanting a profession in logistics – one of many UK’s quickest rising industries. The regeneration will open up the River Lea and create a inexperienced hyperlink with new pedestrian and cycle paths.”
Ford’s former UK headquarters in Brentwood, Essex was closed in 2018, and its 21-acre website, constructed in 1964 (and closely impressed by the Blue Oval’s Dearborn workplaces in Detroit, USA), was purchased by Honest View New Properties for £40m in 2020. Eagle Method, the central workplace, was became luxurious flats by Land Constitution Properties, with 124 one- and two-bedroom flats offered in 2023 for £35.7million.