Is Longbridge about to become the new Solihull?
News last week that Marks & Spencer have been granted planning permission for a new 150,000 sq. ft. store on the former MG Rover site in Longbridge may have raised a few eyebrows for people.
Development at “Longbridge Town Centre”, or rather the newly created town centre, is entering a second phase after an anchor store scheme by Sainsbury with some associated pub, restaurant and leisure development has already established itself. The location for the retail and leisure between the A38 Bristol Road and Longbridge Lane beside the River Rea is one that you can realistically see being South West Birmingham/North Worcestershire’s main retail destination.
Construction of the new M&S at Longbridge starts this Autumn and is expected to be open for trading by Christmas 2015. The consent for the new M&S also approved a further 45,000 sq. ft. of retail space.
A shopping destination for the 21st century – it looks like Longbridge will be the place to go?