Birmingham’s Digbeth Coach Station is set for a £15m facelift aimed at turning it into a landmark gateway to the city, it was revealed today.

The outdated terminal, promised a revamp for almost half its 50 year-plus life, is to be transformed into a “shimmering metallic” building wrapped in copper cladding.

Final plans for the project were lodged with the city council today and the premises will close before Christmas if planning permission is granted.

 The last coach is due to leave at 7.30am on November 12, with the new building due to open by the end of 2009 with 16 coach bays – two more than at present. A £1.4 million temporary coach station would be run from a former car showroom on the opposite side of Digbeth High Street. The facility will be known as Birmingham Central.

National Express Group, which owns the building, now believes that redeveloping the site makes economic sense after initial plans to move to Great Charles Street in the city centre collapsed three years ago because of cost. Chief executive Paul Bunting said: “We are totally committed to delivering this project. The vision will become a reality in the next couple of months and provide a landmark gateway into the city centre.” 

The new-look station would have a sweeping canopy skirting the building and covering the curved front entrance. A drop off-zone will be created in Mill Street along with a taxi waiting zone.

Roman Strzala, a director of the firm of architects designing the station, said: “The emphasis is on providing customers with the best travel experience. The building will be of the highest quality.”

An open day for people to review the plans takes place at the station on Friday from 8am to 4pm and the next day from 9am to noon. A closing party is set for Saturday November 17.