Birmingham seeks £3.3bn for HS2 regeneration plans
Dom Browne
A £3.3bn investment strategy to maximise the benefits of HS2 when it arrives in Birmingham in 2026 has been outlined by the city's local business and council leaders.
The Midlands Growth Strategy published by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership involves a massive investment in transport infrastructure and regeneration schemes.
Artist's impression of the planned Curzon station
Centred around plans for a new HS2 interchange station and association hub garden city development at Solihull and the flagship new terminus in Birmingham City Centre at Curzon Street, the report claims the plan will deliver an additional £14bn to the UK economy.
There will also be extensions to the Midland Metro to the east and west of Birmingham city centre, the development of a rapid transit corridor to the Black Country and enhancements to pedestrian and cycling routes.
The news comes as the Birmingham Curzon HS2 Masterplan is set to be adopted by the city council on the 27 July.
The city has secured £102.9m through its Local Growth Deal but hopes to invest £2.9bn in developing and integrating the new Curzon Street and Solihull stations and two new development zones, as well as providing £366m for a supply chain and business support package.
Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: 'HS2 gives us a superb opportunity to secure first-class connectivity across the whole of the Midlands and that will create an economic powerhouse without equal in the UK regions. But to make these ambitious plans a reality, we must secure regional and national commitments so honest engagement and partnership working will be critical.'
The report states local leaders are 'committed to fully utilising local resources' but 'in order to have the truly transformative impact that HS2 is capable of this commitment [this] will need to be matched/supported by Government and other national agencies'.
According to the strategy, the plan is to secure 104,000 new and safeguarded jobs, 10% of which will be created for local, unemployed residents.
Birmingham along with Doncaster has been chose to host the National college for High Speed Rail, while Washwood Heath in the east of the city has been chosen as a the rolling stock depot for HS2.