Birmingham to invest £1Bn in HS2 redevelopment

Birmingham is to invest close to £1Bn into the regeneration of an area of the city that will be transformed by the arrival of HS2.

The 141 hectares of land around the planned HS2 Curzon Street Station will be regenerated through the Curzon Investment Plan – a 30 year scheme will enable the creation of 4,000 new homes, 36,000 new employment opportunities plus 600,000 sq m of commercial floor space.

The creation of public places such as the Curzon Promenade and Curzon Square will also incorporate the original Curzon Station, a Grade I listed building.

The plan is being led by the Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP (GBSLEP) and Birmingham City Council and marks the first time a significant financial investment by any local area in the country to use HS2 as a catalyst for regeneration.

It is envisaged that the Curzon Investment Plan could be worth up to £1.4Bn to the local economy.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: “I’m delighted that Greater Birmingham is making this investment in the future, working to maximise the potential of HS2 by investing in jobs and housing – and encouraging more business investment. It was in Birmingham where I outlined my plan to build an economy that works for all, with a proper industrial strategy that delivers prosperity, job creation and higher wages across the country, not just in London.

“That’s what the Curzon Investment Plan aims to do in Greater Birmingham, and my Government is right behind them.”

A total of £907M is being distributed to a wide range of projects, and is made up of £586.8M from the GBSLEP, which draws funds from business rates within the Enterprise Zone and £137.2M from the newly formed devolved government, West Midlands Combined Authority.

Councillor John Clancy, Leader of Birmingham City Council, described HS2 as a “unique opportunity” that must be seized upon.

He commented: “Birmingham is at the heart of the HS2 network and the Curzon Investment Plan shows how we intend to use this position to create sustained economic growth and a legacy of new homes, jobs and neighbourhoods for our city.”

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