HS2’s 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 - an industry recognised standard for buildings that reduce energy usage and materials waste, and minimise impact on the natural environment.

HS2 says 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.

It incorporates the existing Grade 1 listed Old Curzon Street building, linking it to the new station’s eastern concourse at New Canal Street, and takes into consideration existing local heritage such as the Grade II listed Moor Street Station and Woodman Pub.

The design also improves access to different modes of transport. The Midland Metro runs alongside and underneath the station, while accessible pedestrian routes lead to local bus services, Sprint rapid transit bus services and other train services. Cycle parking has also been incorporated, providing space for more than 550 bicycles.

The council’s report concluded that “the elegant and (deceptively) simple form of the main station building clearly reads as a railway station and harks back to traditional station architecture, delivering this in a confident and contemporary way.” It also said the station’s public realm “provides a high quality urban environment,” and “will be of much wider benefit than just users of the station, providing key connections to the knowledge quarter and Digbeth.”

Matthew Botelle, HS2 Ltd’s stations director said: “We’re extremely pleased to receive planning approval for HS2’s Curzon Street station in Birmingham. Eco-friendly innovations are a fundamental part of our plans, with the station designed to achieve zero carbon emissions from day-to-day energy consumption. This makes it highly efficient by generating energy through a range of different technologies to maximise natural resources such as sunlight and water. 

“Our design also allows for future improvements to the public space to ensure inclusive, seamless transport connections for local people, provide opportunities for retail and commercial development, and help drive local investment and regeneration. Now that we’ve been given approval, we will continue to work with Birmingham City Council, Transport for the West Midlands, Midland Metro Alliance and Network Rail to make sure that the station is well connected.”

Curzon Street station will be the first brand new intercity terminus station built in Britain since the 19th century, and HS2 has been working with WSP and Grimshaw Architects LLP on the station design.

Initial designs went on display in autumn 2018 and again in January 2020 with more than 300 people providing engagement feedback which was used to inform the design process.

Significant progress has already been made on the site of the new station. A massive archaeological programme, involving 70 archaeologists, has unearthed the world’s oldest railway roundhouse. Demolitions and ground investigations are preparing the site for construction, and utility diversions are set to begin in the summer.

Procurement for the company to construct the station has already started, with Invitation to Tender set to be launched in the summer.