The new development, located on the former MG Rover site, will be powered by a dedicated ‘smart grid’ currently being developed alongside SNRG, with electricity being supplied across a network of homes to ensure they are 100% gas free.

For these houses, St Modwen will also implement renewable technologies and construction techniques used for its recently completed carbon-negative homes in Sussex.

Outline planning was secured for this new site in 2021 for a total of 350 new dwellings.

Detailed planning for the first phase is being conducted with the local authority, with construction expected to start in autumn 2022.

The development of the site has been made possible following £20m of infrastructure investment in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

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The scheme is part of St Modwen’s wider regeneration project in south Birmingham, which aims to create a total of 3,000 new homes, two million sq ft of commercial floorspace and up to 10,000 jobs.

Sarwjit Sambhi, CEO at St Modwen, said: “Every organisation needs to be taking steps to deliver more sustainable products and services, but at St Modwen we have taken leaps by introducing carbon-negative homes and smart grid-powered developments.

“We’re proving that greener homes can be delivered at commercial scale, something which is not just the right thing for the environment, but also allows us to meet the demand of our customers.”

Andy Street, mayor of WMCA, added: “I congratulate St Modwen on building the innovative green homes of the future right here in our region.

“These new homes will be wonderful places to live, boost energy efficiency and affordability and help us tackle the climate emergency.

“Longbridge is a brilliant example that points the way to a more sustainable future for the West Midlands, [which is] fast becoming a fantastic hub to live in, work and play."