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New vision for £286m revamp of Birmingham International station unveiled

The latest images show how Birmingham International station could look for a proposed link up with HS2, following a £286m transformation of the west midlands station.

The images have been released after the Urban Growth Company (UGC), which was set up by Solihull Council, secured £9.2m from the West Midlands Combined Authority. The UGC is responsible for ensuring the benefits of HS2 are maximised.

The funding will allow the UGC to appoint consultants to move forward with the technical design of the station, and design and build contractors to undertake the physical delivery of the project.

The group’s plan is to transform the existing station into a multi-modal transport exchange bringing together existing rail, future high speed rail, air, trams, buses, rapid transit, private vehicles, taxis, bicycles and an automated people mover, through seamless connections to Birmingham Airport and the HS2 Interchange Station by 2025.

It predicts that up to 77,500 jobs, 4000 new homes and £4.1bn GVA could be generated each year from the plans. The revamp of Birmingham International station forms part of a wider vision for land near the airport, NEC and M42. 

Nick Brown, chairman of the UGC, said: “This project is strategically important because of its role in unlocking major growth and development, as well as improving accessibility and connectivity. It also means that Birmingham International station, which is set to become one of the busiest stations in the UK, will become an iconic gateway to the region with greater capacity and a much-improved passenger experience.”

Anne Brereton, director of managed growth at Solihull Council, added: "The creation of this transport exchange will improve connectivity between some of the key employment zones across the West Midlands, providing better access to jobs and services. It’s also a sustainable plan because of its focus on improving public transport, rather than relying on private vehicles."

Kathryn James, managing director for conventions and exhibitions at NEC Group, said: “The connectivity of our site is a major draw for the seven million visitors and guests attending the NEC, the Genting Arena and Birmingham Resorts World each year. We’re hugely supportive of a revitalised Birmingham International station as our region experiences record levels of growth. NEC Group is playing a key part here.”

If you would like to contact Ryan Tute about this, or any other story, please email rtute@infrastructure-intelligence.com.