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Developer St Modwen has secured a 150,000 sq ft pre-let from Marks & Spencer for its £1bn Longbridge town centre scheme, enabling it to begin the scheme’s second phase midway through next year.

St Modwen said it will submit a planning application for the second phase of the scheme – which also includes 45,000 sq ft of additional retail units and a multi-storey car park – imminently.

St Modwen said the M&S will be one of the largest in the UK and will create up to 350 jobs.

St Modwen acquired the 46-acre MG Rover site at Longbridge in 2003 and is planning to transform it into a regeneration scheme incorporating 2,000 homes.

Morgan Sindall is delivering the first phase, which includes a 85,000 sqft Sainsbury’s supermarket, two dozen other shops and restaurants, a 75-room hotel, and offices.