Solihull council has approved designs drawn up by Arup
Plans for HS2’s new Interchange station in Solihull have been given the green light.
The planning application for the station and the surrounding landscape and public realm, along with an automated people mover, were approved by the Solihull council yesterday.
The station recently became the first railway station globally to achieve the BREEAM “outstanding” certification at the design stage – putting it in the top 1% of buildings in the UK for eco-friendly credentials.
The planners’ report said the design, drawn up by Arup, creates “an exciting contextual response to its setting”.
The council’s planning team said that the design of the station “draws upon the historic and agricultural character of the local area and delivers a strong sense of place and identity through its architectural form and the design of its landscape.”
The automated people mover will link to the NEC, Birmingham International Station and Birmingham Airport, carrying up to 2,100 passengers an hour in each direction, with a service every three minutes along a 2.3km route.
The next steps for the project include continuing to work with the council and other stakeholders to maximise the development opportunities around the site.
A contractor is expected to be appointed in 2022, with construction planned to start in 2024.
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