The granting of Royal Assent to the HS2 Hybrid Bill – a key milestone in the delivery of the HS2 project – has cleared the way for the realisation of what will become a key part of the UK’s transport infrastructure.
Royal Assent has also created greater certainty around the delivery of the 350 acre Arden Cross development, which will be home to the HS2 Interchange Station, the first stop on the high speed rail line outside Greater London and the last before the terminus at Curzon in Birmingham city centre.
Whilst only occupying a small proportion of the total site, the Interchange Station (shown in yellow on the accompanying image) will act as a catalyst for the delivery of this important, ambitious and strategically located, mixed-use development that will create a bustling and sustainable new urban quarter.
Masterplanning is already underway for the delivery of over 2.65 million sq ft of commercial space suitable for national and international occupiers, 2,000 new homes and complementary retail and leisure amenities supported by exceptional public realm
Ben Gray, Project Director for the Arden Cross Consortium, said: “Royal Assent is a key landmark that provides further certainty for the Arden Cross project and will act as a spur for investment, not only for the Arden Cross site but also across the wider region, and the importance of this moment should not be understated.
“The Arden Cross site will be directly impacted by the delivery of this momentous project and has the potential and capability of delivering a major, mixed use hub that fully capitalises on its unparalleled transport connections and its superb location at the geographical centre of the country
“Arden Cross will bring a world class development to the core of the UK and deliver a vibrant, exciting and bustling community that effectively combines high quality residential, commercial, retail and leisure development.
“For some time, the buoyant and positive environment within the West Midlands has been rallied by the expected arrival of HS2. This expectation can now be realised and pave the way for Inward Investment and the creation of thousands of jobs.
“For the West Midlands, this will bring many physical and economic benefits to the region, both during the construction phases and once the line from London to Birmingham is complete. The region will also gain enormous advantages from the increased capacity and faster journey times to and from the great cities of England once the phase 2 of the scheme is built out, further attracting new businesses, investment, visitors and residents to the area.”
Arden Cross constitutes a strategically important triangular development site bounded by the M42, A45 and A452, and adjacent to Birmingham Airport, Birmingham International Railway Station, Resorts World and the NEC.
Arden Cross is a part of UK Central, a strategic economic vision being driven by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and fully supported by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), West Midlands Combined Authority and UK Central Government.