Gateway to city would cost £286m to build
Plans to create a £286m public transport hub at Birmingham International Station have taken a step forward after Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council agreed to move ahead with the project’s business case.
This would link between the city’s airport, Birmingham Interchange HS2 station and landmarks such as the NEC, Genting Arena and new Genting Resorts World complex.
After agreeing to take the outline business case forward to the next stage of scheme development, the council will now to submit it to government, West Midlands Combined Authority and Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP to secure funding to progress the project through the next stage of design and full project funding.
The hub is due to open in December 2025, a year ahead of HS2 arriving in the area. Mott MacDonald and Grimshaw Architects undertook an 18-month feasibility study into the development including production of the outline business case.
In a report prepared ahead of the council cabinet meeting it said: “The remodelling of the station offers the opportunity for a striking architectural design creating an iconic gateway to the region. The proposals provide full integration of public transport and active travel modes with intuitive way finding.”
The report also stated the existing station was already constrained by capacity and that passenger numbers were forecast to triple by 2036. Based on current figures Birmingham International Station would become one of the top 12 busiest stations outside London.
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