AMBITIOUS plans to breathe new life into the former United Engineering Forging (UEF) plant will see the creation of a science park, 700 jobs and a housing estate.

The 55 acres at Aston Fields has been earmarked for a major property development by Persimmon Homes and Advantage West Midlands (AWM) has purchased 22 acres from the developer for industrial use.

Bromsgrove District Council has been at the heart of negotiations to ensure the site will regenerate some of the 500 jobs lost when UEF, formally known as Garringtons, closed.

New council leader, Cllr Dennis Norton (Con - Norton), said: "We started off saying we would compromise on the introduction of residential development provided we got, not just employment on the site, but employment providing high quality jobs, and this is what we have achieved."