Former MG Rover and Vauxhall sites – Longbridge and Griffin House respectively – are set to make way for modern developments
Enthusiasts last week mourned the loss of Longbridge (MG Rover) and Griffin House (Vauxhall) as work began on the redevelopment of each site.
Longbridge, latterly home to MG Rover, closed in April 2005 and, despite several production restarts, ceased final assembly on cars in 2016. The site was gradually whittled down in size as marque owners, MG Motor UK (SAIC Motor) negotiated terms with owner, St Modwen.
On October 13, the Bromsgrove Standard reported on a reserved matters planning application by Vistry North West Midlands to build up to 695 houses on Longbridge’s remaining land. The former West Works has already had a business park, college and housing built in and around where it once stood, with 27 acres handed back to the public last month. In addition, 343 more houses, built by St Modwen Homes, will also be constructed on the West Works site.
Sarwjit Sambhi, CEO of St. Modwen, added: “Having already attracted industry-leading, global businesses to Longbridge Business Park, we will shortly be delivering much-needed houses on the site which will leave a lasting legacy of our time in Longbridge.”
Vistry North West Midlands want to redevelop around the Car Assembly Buildings (CABs): it told the BBC of a proposal to strip one of the structures down to its frame as part of a public park. Longbridge’s iconic Conference Centre would be used as office space in this proposal; more recently, it was home to Paul Rigby Limited’s MG dealership, which serviced and sold SAIC-made MGs.
Vistry, Britain’s biggest housebuilder, is set to build 695 homes on the former MG Rover site at Longbridge
Earlier this year, Herbert Austin’s office, which had remained in situ at Longbridge until 2021, was re-opened at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire, joining William Morris’s bureau previously moved from Cowley, (now MINI Plant Oxford) in 1994. Seminal prototypes, including MGF precursors PR1 and PR3, the Rover TCV, and MG Rover RDX60, were moved to Gaydon from Longbridge in late 2023.
Longbridge’s redevelopment will not affect the grounds of the nearby Cofton Park, home to the Pride of Longbridge (PoL) rally which, since 2006, has commemorated the cars and achievements of the site. Founder and organiser, Gemma Cartwright, confirmed the event would continue:
“Pride of Longbride is unique by bringing the ex-workforce, community and enthusiasts together. It will continue serving the community, ensuring our heritage is remembered and celebrated via the small events through the year and our annual gathering,” she said.
Vauxhall’s legacy hasn’t fared much better. With 50 Heritage Collection cars now at the British Motor Museum, and current news stories warning of the uncertain future facing its production plants at Luton and Ellesmere Port, Griffin House, its former head office, finally faced the bulldozers last week after being approved for demolition last year.
Luton’s Griffin House is to be demolished 60 years after it first opened
The firm had vacated the three-story premises, built in 1964 as the Vauxhall Engineering and Styling Centre (AJ Block), in May 2019. A self-contained facility with studios, workshops and viewing areas, it had designed, engineered and built upcoming and secret Vauxhall and Bedford models under director of styling, David B Jones, for two decades.
Having sired every production Vauxhall from 1964 onwards, it also gave life to the XVR, SVR and Equus concept cars. Further integration into GM Europe changed its priorities; Vauxhall eventually lost its design autonomy by 1983 and Griffin House became Vauxhall’s headquarters in 1991.
Last year, Caroline Musker, Head of Planning at Prologis UK, told Bedfordshire Live: “The regeneration of Griffin House and the BWI Group site into a high-quality logistics and business park will deliver approximately 450 new jobs and significant investment for Luton, alongside a new skills and training facility to support local people wanting a career in logistics – one of the UK’s fastest growing industries. The regeneration will open up the River Lea and create a green link with new pedestrian and cycle paths.”
Ford’s former UK headquarters in Brentwood, Essex was closed in 2018, and its 21-acre site, constructed in 1964 (and heavily inspired by the Blue Oval’s Dearborn offices in Detroit, USA), was bought by Fair View New Homes for £40m in 2020. Eagle Way, the central office, was turned into luxury flats by Land Charter Homes, with 124 one- and two-bedroom apartments sold in 2023 for £35.7million.
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