Homebuyer Hub honours Longbridge manufacturing heritage

February 21, 2024

The interior design firm Edward Thomas Interiors has partnered with St. Modwen Homes to deliver a bespoke Homebuyer Hub for the housebuilder’s flagship West Works development in Longbridge, Birmingham.

West Works is a major regeneration project to transform the former MG Rover factory site into a vibrant new community. Using this heritage as inspiration, Edward Thomas Interiors has recently completed the installation of the Homebuyer Hub, which acts as the first point of call for visiting house hunters.

“Car manufacture at the Longbridge site actually dates back to the 19^th Century, however MG Rover was the last owner before the factory’s closure in 2005,” explains Edward Thomas Interiors’ client account manager, Megan Doherty. “St. Modwen Homes was particularly keen to capture this history as it takes the site forward into its next chapter and therefore briefed us to create an industrial aesthetic.

“The Homebuyer Hub’s colour palette incorporates deep blue, grey and tan alongside oak, leather and antique bronze for an upmarket feel. The hub is also subtly ‘zoned’ with different areas to enable it to function as an information centre and place of work. Poseur tables, casual seating and occasional chairs create areas to welcome and wait, review house types and plans, and meet sales consultants, while private meeting rooms and a living room area are included for house hunters to spend time choosing options and upgrades.

“To bring the heritage to life, the Homebuyer Hub features locally sourced artwork and accessories, as well as items depicting classic Rover cars and scenes from the production line.”

St. Modwen Homes officially unveiled the Homebuyer Hub earlier this year and feedback has been wholly positive. Jo Winston, Sales and Marketing Director, St. Modwen Homes adds: “Edward Thomas Interiors has done an exceptional job curating the design for our Homebuyer Hub. It ticks all the boxes; it’s an inviting and comfortable space for potential purchasers, a modern and elegant workplace, and has thoughtful connections to the site’s former use.”

As well as the Homebuyer Hub, Edward Thomas Interiors has also installed two showhomes at West Works. A two-bedroom Bridget, which features a monochrome palette with a dramatic tobacco brown accent colour, modern industrial furniture and bold wallpapers, and the newly unveiled three-bedroom Rose, which was launched this month (10-11 February 2024) and features soft pinks and luxurious fabrics as well as vibrant children’s bedrooms. Concept drawings have also been prepared for an additional showhome.

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