Perry Barr: Rapid progress on new station as roof installed

A £30.9million redevelopment of the new Perry Barr railway station has reached new heights with the installation of the roof.

Work on the significant scheme is rapidly progressing as the roof has now been added to the station.

Redevelopment of the site is being led by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the new station is scheduled to open in spring 2022, ready for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

The old unattractive station is clearing way for the new purpose-built development which will act as new gateway to the Alexander Stadium, a major venue for the Games, and will provide a more welcoming and accessible facility for residents in Perry Barr.

Deputy Mayor of the West Midlands Cllr Bob Sleigh made his second visit to the site for the 'topping out' ceremony to mark the installation of the roof.

Cllr Sleigh said: "This new railway station will be a great asset for Perry Barr, the Commonwealth Games and the city as a whole. It is fantastic to see such rapid progress being made and meet some of those working on site. It is truly taking shape.

"The new station, combined with the development of the Sprint bus route, a new bus interchange and new cycling routes will give thousands of residents more choice for their journeys around the region."

The works are complemented by the redevelopment of the bus interchange outside One Stop Shopping Centre next door and investment in the Sprint bus route on the A34 plus new cycling and walking routes.

The railway station and bus interchange project partnership includes TfWM, which is part of the West Midland Combined Authority (WMCA), the West Midlands Rail Executive, Birmingham City Council, Network Rail and West Midlands Trains.

The majority of funding has come from the WMCA, Birmingham City Council, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, said: "Connectivity is key for all communities, not only to reduce congestion on our roads and support our economy as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, but also to help us meet our climate change targets.

"So this investment in Perry Barr, through this new station and the wider £700 million redevelopment of the area, is crucial to ensure Perry Barr has a lasting legacy of better public transport links and infrastructure for the future."

Anita Bhalla, Deputy Chair, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), commented: "In the last decade, GBSLEP through its unique triple helix structure of public, private and academic partners has made targeted investments to create better places for our communities and drive inclusive economic growth.

"Our £3.5 million funding into Perry Barr is contributing to a 'once-in-a-'generation' transformation of this area in Birmingham.

"The new station, bus interchange and wider regeneration will not only serve the needs of local people and businesses through providing sustainable ways to travel around but is an international gateway when visitors will be arriving for the Commonwealth Games next year."

When complete the new fully-accessible station will provide a new ticket office, toilets and baby changing facilities, lifts and new stairs and platforms. It will replace what was a very unattractive rail station.

This investment is just part of the region's wider plans for rail which include the construction of six new stations and the reopening of the Camp Hill and Wolverhampton to Walsall lines to passenger services. It will also contribute towards the West Midlands' target of becoming a net-zero carbon region by 2041.

The new Perry Barr station is part of a whole package of £700m-plus of regeneration activity in Perry Barr.