News on HS2 in Birmingham

The new landmark Curzon Street station in Birmingham, set to be one of the most environmentally-friendly railway stations in the world, has been given planning permission by Birmingham City Council.

Three planning applications for the new station and the surrounding landscaping were approved by the Council’s planning committee on 23 April, with the Council’s report concluding the station design “is truly world class”.

The new HS2 station will be net zero carbon in operation, and will adopt the latest eco-friendly design and sustainable technologies including capturing rainwater and sustainable power generation, with over 2800m2 of solar panels located on platform canopies. It is designed to meet a ‘BREEAM excellent’ standard which is an industry recognised standard for buildings that reduce energy usage and materials waste, and minimise impact on the natural environment.

The design ensures accessibility and complements the local setting, with a focus on the open space and landscaping around it. Features include parkland lawns, rain gardens to capture water, wildflower grassland, insect and bird boxes, forest-scale tree planting across the site, and an area of new broadleaf woodland to provide a natural habitat for local wildlife.

Throughout January 2020, we shared the design for Curzon Street station at a series of events across Birmingham. In autumn 2018, we asked for your views on the design of the station. We held 15 events with over 1,750 attendees, and invited people to share their views by completing a survey. This included feedback on key design themes, such as accessibility, customer experience and the use of public spaces. The feedback was incorporated into the finalised the design of the station.

Curzon Street station will be the first brand new intercity terminus station built in Britain since the 19th century. It will create a new landmark for Birmingham and boost opportunities for regeneration in the city.

Visit the Curzon Street station page for more information about the station and its design.

If you have any questions about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .