Halcrow Yolles is environmental and engineering consultant for the redevelopment of the former MG Rover car manufacturing works at Longbridge in Birmingham, the largest redevelopment site in the West Midlands.
Some 100ha of land will be remediated and redeveloped into a mixed-use, sustainable development that will benefit the local community and provide a new focal point for the area.
It is set to attract £1 billion of investment and deliver 10,000 new jobs, 2,000 new homes, 4 million sq ft of employment space, and a new education/community facility.
Halcrow’s role encompasses:
- transport and environmental impact assessment
- ecological surveys
- sustainability and energy advice and assessment
- flood risk management
- drainage and water quality
- geo-environmental and remediation services
- highways infrastructure
- waste management
We have already played a significant part in the 20-year delivery programme: our incremental phased approach to planning enabled early commencement.
A close, collaborative working relationship between the client and consultant team – through a co-located project office – has benefited project delivery.
A history of manufacturing has left a legacy of structures and contamination, although the 190ha site also includes farmland. Part of the land is leased to Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) for ongoing car production. The need to maintain services and keep the NAC site operational during the site’s remediation and clearance was a significant challenge.
To coordinate the mammoth task and seamless delivery of new and diverted utilities throughout the development of the master plan, Halcrow set up and managed a specialist utilities team.