Greater Birmingham unveils HS2 redevelopment plan

The UK’s Birmingham Council has unveiled a 141ha urban redevelopment project planned to be built around the site of a proposed new high-speed rail station.

The project being proposed to investors and developers is for an area around a proposed new city centre station – Birmingham Curzon – where the country’s planned North/South high-speed rail link (HS2) will terminate.

Plans include the construction of 600,000m² of new employment floor space and 2,000 new homes. Birmingham Council said the regeneration would boost the city’s economy by £1.3 billion (€1.6 billion) each year.

Leader of Birmingham Council Sir Albert Bore said, “We’re not waiting around for HS2 to get built before we get started. We’re announcing our plans today, and we’re ready to start building as soon as the new railway gets the green light.

“Up and down the length of HS2 there is huge potential for major regeneration and development, and we must press forward with this project without delay.”

Construction of the 104km first phase of HS2 from London to the West Midlands, including Birmingham, is scheduled to start in 2016. This part of the line is expected to open in 2026.