Birmingham City Council has today backed plans for HS2’s new station in the heart of the City.

In total three planning applications for the £571m station and other surrounding areas were put forward to the planning committee during a ‘virtual’ meeting – and all were approved with WSP and Grimshaw Architects working heavily on the project. [emaillocker id=”71749″]

The announcement – which comes ahead of the HS2 Economic Growth Conference – continues to see HS2 move forward in 2020, after receiving both Government backing and the thumbs up for Parliament to kickstart works. The project will be the first intercity terminus station built since the 19th century.

Stations Director at HS2 Matthew Botelle said: “We’re extremely pleased to receive planning approval for HS2’s Curzon Street station in Birmingham. Our design also allows for future improvements to the public space to ensure inclusive, seamless transport connections for local people, provide opportunities for retail and commercial development, and help drive local investment and regeneration.”

The scheme is currently unprocured – after HS2 restarted the process after receiving a low level of interest initially from firms looking to bid. After some changes, including a cost increase of over £100m, HS2 are now looking to invite firms to tender in the summer as they search for a main contractor.

The development will have sustainability at heart – with plans to create a zero-carbon station in terms of operation, and to do this they will adopt the latest eco-friendly design and sustainble technologies including capturing rainwater and sustainable power generation, with over 2,800m2 of solar panels located on platform canopies. It’s designed to meet a BREEAM Excellent standard.

The surrounding public realm will include parkland lawns, rain gardens to capture water, wildflower grassland, insect/bird boxes, forest-scale tree planting across the site and an area of new broadleaf woodland which will provide a natural habitat for wildlife.

A Council report said: “The design is truly world class. The elegant and (deceptively) simple form of the main station building clearly reads as a railway station and harks back to traditional station architecture, delivering this in a confident and contemporary way.”

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