HS2 jobs and growth boost for Birmingham
HS2 jobs and growth boost for Birmingham
- New regeneration company will lead the redevelopment around Curzon Street, Birmingham's HS2 terminus
- Redevelopment set to deliver 14,000 jobs and up to £1.3 billion boost to the local economy
- Birmingham chosen as location for the HS2 Construction HQ, creating 1,500 jobs
- Allocation of £30m of funding by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership to kick-start development activity
- £130m secured earlier this month from Local Growth Fund for HS2 related projects - work has begun on a project to extend Midland Metro to HS2 Curzon St station
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and HS2 Chairman David Higgins met with Birmingham Council Leader Sir Albert Bore in Birmingham today (Monday 21 July) for the launch of the city's Urban Regeneration Company. They also announced the location of the HS2 Construction HQ, which taken together sees the creation of a large number of jobs, significant regeneration of the city centre and a massive economic boost to the city.
The Birmingham Curzon Urban Regeneration Company will lead the development of over 140 hectares of land around Curzon Street in the heart of Birmingham city centre. The redevelopment will create 14,000 jobs, 600,000 square metres of new employment floorspace and 2,000 homes, contributing up to £1.3bn a year to the local economy.
The establishment of the regeneration body represents a bold and new approach to driving local economic growth, in what is a major transfer of power away from central government.
It will create a strong partnership between local and national bodies with the City Council, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, HS2 Ltd. and HM Government all represented on the Company's Board.
To accelerate the regeneration of the Curzon Street site, the area's Growth Deal, the agreement which sees central government funds allocated to local projects, will deliver a further £130m and help bring forward work to extend the Midland Metro. The planned extension will bring tram services into the heart of the Birmingham Curzon area and link the HS2 terminus directly into the local transport system.
Additionally, the GBSLEP are also making a substantial investment, with £30m committed to support development activity in the Birmingham Curzon area.
HS2 Construction HQ
HS2 Ltd has today announced that its construction HQ will be housed in Birmingham, at the heart of the HS2 route.
The new HQ will house up to 1,500 HS2 Ltd employees and the first phase is expected to open in 2015. Some employees will move their base from London to the new HQ but the majority will be brand new highly skilled jobs for the city. These will include the engineers and designers responsible for detailed construction plans for the track, stations and signalling as well as the staff needed to support their work.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:
“HS2 is a vital part of our long-term economic plan. By locating the new HS2 engineering HQ in Birmingham we are bringing skilled job opportunities into the area, spreading HS2's benefits beyond those using the new rail line.
“It is great news that Birmingham City Council has created a company specifically to focus on the regeneration opportunities created by HS2. It will bring new investment and work into the city, helping secure the future prosperity of the region and the country.”
HS2 Chairman, David Higgins said:
“The lasting impact of HS2 will, in the end, be determined by how successfully local authorities and regions use it as a catalyst to transform and develop not just their economies, but also the look and feel of the areas it touches. The Birmingham Curzon Urban Regeneration Company will, therefore, be hugely important both for Birmingham and the rest of the West Midlands, and also as an example to the rest of the cities along the route. I acknowledge and applaud the work that has gone on to get this far and wish it every success in the future.”
Sir Albert Bore, Leader of Birmingham Council said:
“Since the industrial revolution, Birmingham has been a national capital for engineering, so it is only natural that the HS2 Construction HQ be based in Birmingham.
“HS2 is an important step in rebalancing the country's economy, supporting growth in the regions and encouraging more inward investment into the City.
“It is essential that we have the power to make local decisions, and the Regeneration Company will allow us to realise the full potential and benefit of HS2 for this area.”
Andy Street, Chairman of the GBSLEP said:
“Greater Birmingham is helping lead Britain's economic recovery, showing the rest of the country the road ahead in areas such as manufacturing, exports and digital business. But we have even more ambitious plans for the future, and HS2 is integral to that. That's why I'm delighted to announce that the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP will be investing £30 million to unleash and unlock the potential of Birmingham Curzon.
“The regeneration is a clear signal of Greater Birmingham's ambition and abilities. That is why the LEP is fully behind the regeneration and providing funding, because we know the most successful regeneration projects are led by local bodies.”
Ends
