Birmingham's HS2 Curzon Street Station to Feature New Public Squares and Gardens
Major regeneration plans designed to create characterful public spaces around the new HS2 station in Birmingham city centre have been recommended for approval. The proposals for the public realm and connectivity in and around Curzon Street Station are set to be considered by council planners next week.
Distinct Character Areas Proposed
A recently-published council officer's report outlines that the plans aim to establish a series of distinct character areas, including:
- Station Square: The main arrival space featuring natural stone paving, lighting, furniture, soft landscape gardens, and terraces.
- Curzon Promenade: Located to the north of the western concourse and Station Square, designed as a green-infrastructure link with a parkland character.
- Curzon Square and New Canal Street Square: These two spaces would merge to form a large-scale, hard paved city square.
- Old Curzon Street Square Gardens: A garden square proposed to the east of the Grade I listed Old Curzon Street Station.
- Paternoster Place: A key public space at the gateway to Digbeth, intended to create a high-quality main entrance area.
The report notes that these plans consolidate two previously approved public realm schemes from 2020, with refinements made to reflect the ongoing evolution of the station and its surroundings.
Key Design Updates and Enhancements
Since the original approvals, several updates have been implemented to enhance the layout, character areas, and overall usability of the space for all station users. Key changes include:
- Updates to urban realm walls and planting within Station Square.
- Realignment of the Station Square Steps and updates to Paternoster.
- Revised layout and levels along Curzon Promenade.
- Updated interface between Curzon Promenade and the Midland Metro.
- Updated design for Curzon Square.
- Revisions to the southern route to accommodate servicing and cycling.
- Updated design for the southern entrance to the Eastern Concourse.
The council officer concluded that the proposals are welcomed and would result in high-quality, robust, and characterful public realm, contributing to the delivery of a world-class station and landmark destination in Birmingham. Accordingly, there are no compelling reasons to refuse the application, and the works are recommended for approval.
Planning Committee Decision and Broader Context
The proposals will be considered by Birmingham's planning committee next Thursday, April 16. This comes amid broader challenges for the HS2 project, which has faced rising costs and delays. HS2 CEO Mark Wild recently acknowledged the need to address the failures of the past and get HS2 on track, emphasizing a fundamental reset of the program.
Despite these setbacks, Councillor John Cotton, leader of Birmingham Council, has stressed that HS2 is already bringing huge benefits to the city. He noted that other businesses are now investing in Birmingham because they know HS2 is coming, highlighting the transformation it is delivering.
The regeneration plans aim to strengthen connections across this part of the city, ensuring that the economic benefits of the new high-speed rail link support regeneration both locally and more widely. With these enhancements, Curzon Street Station is poised to become a central hub for Birmingham's future growth and development.
