I visited Birmingham estate where ghost of MG Rover factory is causing a stir

Nearly 20 years after the car giant closed its doors, a part of its history still looms large, dividing residents to this day

It was the iconic car maker that employed generations of Brummie families - and caused a bitter blow to the community when it closed. The world famous MG Rover factory in Longbridge employed as many as 25,000 workers until its assembly lines ground to a halt with the collapse of the car maker in April 2005.

Nearly 20 years on, the boundary walls of the old factory remain standing, shutting out wannabe urban explorers and residents of the new estate built in its shadow. However there is one relic from MG Rover's factory days that seems to have been left behind, and it is causing a stir among residents and visitors alike.

What appears to be part of the factory, or a structure related to car operations, still stands among the polished new build homes that sprung up around the old plant. The red structure sticks out like a sore thumb, in sharp contrast to the modern buildings around it, so we decided to visit the area and see how, or if, old and new can live together.

READ MORE: Birmingham has highest rate of kids in temporary accommodation outside of London - shock figures

Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp

Gliding past road names like Windsor, Ascot, Ambassador and Austin, I knew I was in the right place. The red, corrugated structure came into view as I parked up on Dalmuir Road, a stone's throw from the old Rover works and now the main connecting route into the new-build estate.

The weathered structure is certainly strange looking. What would have once been integral to the car works, is now a peculiar looking neighbour for residents to stare at. However as I soon came to learn, it has become a a marmite character, drawing car fans from afar while simultaneously frustrating those who wake up to it every morning.

Look through our photo story below to see factory memories and how the estate looks now:

Pictures show ghost of old Rover factory in Birmingham

View gallery

One resident, who lives opposite the old relic, told us on her doorstep that the main issue is "young people" getting into the land where the relic is. "I am keen to move" the mum, who wished to remain anonymous, told us. "It is a nice area but it is just there are a lot of goings on.

"It is a good place for youths to hang on. Police came quite a lot, I don't know if a lot of homeless people go in there. There's always something going on, it is a really nice area though." As I peered up into the bright red structure, what looks like a slide for cars bears down into a landing structure.

A 'no smoking' sign presumably from days gone by sits on the inside of the shelter, giving it the feel of a historic landmark as opposed to an eyesore. The closure of the Rover factory had huge implications as children, parents and grandparents employed by the giant were told their jobs no longer existed.

A smaller car manufacturing operation did continue until 2016, but since then, a mix of town houses and flats were built in the shadow of the former factory. A few doors down, Victoria Wright told us of her surprising view about the landscape outside her front door. Victoria, 26, has lived in the property with her partner for three and a half years. "It is a really nice place to live" she told us.

"We haven't really had any problems. I know it looks like an eyesore but I quite like that building. It's just a bit of history and my partner works in the car industry. I will miss it when it's gone.

"I would prefer the fences were not there but I get it is to stop people going in." As I continued through the estate, the rumble of nearby building works could be heard as part of ongoing housing development in the area.

As I filed past neat gardens and a mix of young professionals and families returning home from school and work, I bumped into Nicole Styler. Nicole was walking around the corner with her young son and asked us if we knew what was happening with the building.

Glancing up at the structure, Nicole, 32, said: "It is a nice bit of history, it is a bit of an eyesore and kids climb it." She added that it is a hotspot for 'urban explorers', groups who explore and scale abandoned buildings and structures that are out of bounds to the public. Local resident Nicole went on: "I open my curtains look out at that.

"We get lots of Rover fans come and see it, apparently it was the trap where finished cars came down.." Sharing her view as a whole, Nicole said: "It is a nice area."