A new high-speed terminus in Birmingham Curzon

Sector and market opportunity

Birmingham will be at the heart of the UK’s high-speed rail network. This project provides an exclusive opportunity to radically enhance the city’s national rail connectivity and accelerate its economic growth potential.

A brand-new high-speed station, Birmingham Curzon, will be developed in the city centre and will act as the catalyst for a major mixed use regeneration scheme.

The Birmingham Curzon masterplan sets out the city council’s aims for the station. It also demonstrates the regeneration potential of the surrounding area - 141 hectares that could result in a £4 billion to the UK economic uplift.

Location

The creative quarter in Digbeth is a key focus of the masterplan. It’s home to more than 400 creative companies, making it a powerful digital hub.

Likened to Shoreditch in London, Digbeth is a vibrant place, with an eclectic mix of street art, music venues, street food vendors and bars and pubs. Regeneration plans in this part of the city aim to enhance its distinctive character and provide scope for new commercial developments.

Connectivity

Once functional, the high-speed rail connection will reduce travel time between London Euston and Birmingham to less than 40 minutes.

There will also be a high-speed interchange station at the new Arden Cross site, which will offer direct links to Birmingham Airport and Birmingham International railway station.

Local talent and skills

The West Midlands Combined Authority has one of the fastest growing economies of any Combined Authority in the UK, with a GVA growth rate of 25.5% over the last five years.

The wider region is home to 8 universities producing over 55,000 graduates per year. There are also 1.3 million people under the age of 25 who live within the region.

Birmingham is also home to global firms such as PwC, HSBC and Goldman Sachs.

Further details

There are already opportunities to bring forward development across the wider Masterplan regeneration area. A £724 million investment programme has been agreed with government for Curzon.

This programme will:

• integrate the station into the city centre
• lead to the expansion of the Midland Metro network
• provide the necessary infrastructure to unlock key sites
• bring growth and development forward within the city and beyond

The Masterplan will establish:

• the aspiration for the delivery of an integrated world-class station
• a series of project milestones to achieve this
• support for wider growth and regeneration of the area

The project milestones include:

• station design to create a landmark terminus building and visitor arrival experience
• creation of a high-quality public realm
• a shared space within the city centre terminus

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) highlights

The Birmingham Curzon station has been designed to be net-zero in operation, using a range of technologies to generate energy from renewable sources.

For example, the station will be net-zero carbon for those assets that can be regulated (heating, cooling, lighting). This is thanks to the use of ground source heat pumps, LED lighting and PVs (2,855m2 solar panels will be located on the platform canopies).

Promoters and partnerships

Birmingham City Council as promoter is working in partnership with the Greater Birmingham Solihull LEP and West Midlands Combined Authority, plus Homes England.

Local and national government support

A £724 million investment programme for Curzon has been agreed with UK government.