New Street Station design unveiled
A vision of how Birmingham's New Street Station will look following a £600m redevelopment project has been unveiled.
The plans are part of the Birmingham Gateway scheme, which is designed to update the 1960s-built station, as well as stimulating further regeneration in the area. Plans include enlarging the concourse by three-and-a-half times its current size, a distinctive station facade, and better pedestrian links, both to and through the station.
The Birmingham Gateway project is the result of a partnership between the development agency, Advantage West Midlands (AWM), which will invest £100m, Birmingham City Council, passenger group Centro, and Network Rail, which has contributed £128m to the scheme. The concept designs were drawn up by Foreign Office Architects, which won an international competition of nearly 50 applicants, decided by a representative board comprising members of each of the scheme's partners.
Mick Laverty, chief executive of AWM, said: "This region has a proud track record of reinvention and ingenuity – you only have to look at the impressive design unveiled to realise the ambition we have, not only to create a memorable gateway into the region, but also to regenerate the south side of Birmingham City Centre. An integrated team led by Network Rail will now develop the designs, including the architects, the project's lead consultant, WS Atkins, and delivery partner, Mace.