Vistry Group, the UK’s largest housebuilder, has partnered with Bromford, one of the country’s leading housing associations, to deliver up to 695 sustainable homes in Longbridge, southwest Birmingham, the former site of the MG Rover factory.
Bromford will own and manage 250 of these homes, ensuring over 35% of the development is designated as affordable housing, surpassing the 20% required by planning. Out of these, 132 homes, representing 19% of the total, will be available for social rent—well above the 4% required—while 118 homes will be offered under Bromford’s shared ownership scheme.
The development will also include 209 homes for the private rental sector, with 236 properties available for private ownership, catering to a wide range of housing needs. Beyond providing new homes, the project is expected to spur local economic growth through on-site job creation and offer additional community benefits with public spaces and designated areas for local use.
The homes will range from one- and two-bedroom apartments to larger family houses with two, three, or four bedrooms. Sustainability is a key focus, with homes featuring air source heat pumps instead of gas boilers, photovoltaic panels for renewable electricity, and wastewater recovery systems to reduce water consumption. Constructed using modern methods of construction (MMC), the homes will be built off-site using open panel timber frames, significantly reducing their carbon footprint. Each home built with these methods is expected to produce 14,460kg less CO2 than traditional brick-and-block houses.
Phil McHugh, Managing Director of Vistry North West Midlands, expressed excitement about the project: “We’re delighted to be working with Bromford on this transformative development, which will not only address Birmingham’s need for affordable housing but also contribute to the city’s economic growth. We’re committed to delivering high-quality, sustainable homes that go above and beyond what is required in terms of affordability and environmental impact.”
Alice Phillips, Regional Development Manager at Bromford, emphasized the positive impact of the project: “This partnership with Vistry allows us to bring much-needed affordable homes to Birmingham. The inclusion of 132 social rent homes will make a significant difference to local families waiting for housing, and these homes will be among the most energy-efficient we’ve ever built in the West Midlands.”
Simon Vick, Head of Development at Bromford, added: “This is one of our largest partnerships in the region and is a major step toward addressing the severe shortage of affordable homes in Birmingham.”
The purchase of the land from St. Modwen and the development agreement were supported by professional services group Gateley. Lauren Jeffrey, Senior Associate at Gateley Legal, highlighted the significance of the site, formerly home to the MG Rover factory: “It’s fantastic to see this iconic location being transformed into a vibrant community with much-needed housing, shops, and offices. The success of this project reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved.
