'Unattractive' railway station building torn down as redevelopment begins
An "unattractive and outdated" railway station in Birmingham has been demolished to pave the way for a £30 million redevelopment.
Perry Barr station was torn down – along with an attached row of shops – at night to avoid disruption to rail services still using the line.
It will make way for a new purpose-built station which will be built over the next 12 months – in time for the Commonwealth Games.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: "This redevelopment of the eyesore Perry Barr station is long overdue, and I am delighted that just days since being re-elected as mayor we’ve been able to get on with the work and tear the old station down. It was a hideous building with poor access for wheelchair and pushchairs, and almost certainly put people off using public transport.
"The new, modern, Perry Barr station will have more space, public toilets, better travel information, and CCTV, to create a far better experience for passengers. Given the station will be a gateway to the Commonwealth Games next year, it is absolutely vital we get this much-needed work done.
"The development is also taking shape just at the right time as we look to bounce back quickly from the pandemic – with jobs being created both on site and in the supply chain. Infrastructure projects such as this are going to be critical to my plans to create 100,000 jobs and employment opportunities in just two years."
The station will be "light and airy" and will offer more room for passengers and improved facilities, including lift access to the platforms, an improved ticket office, accessible toilets, CCTV security cameras and cycle parking.
More than 40 people are employed on this development with many more jobs and businesses being supported through the construction supply chain, chiefs have said.
The development, being led by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE), is taking place alongside the wider regeneration of Perry Barr which includes a new road layout and thousands of new homes. The £30 million funding package will also cover the redevelopment of the bus interchange outside the One Stop Shopping centre.
TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), is also developing a Sprint bus corridor, due to launch next year, offering services along the A34 and A45 between Walsall, Birmingham and Solihull. The existing A34 segregated blue cycle lane will also be extended to the nearby Alexander Stadium and Perry Park.
Councillor Brigid Jones, WMCA portfolio lead for inclusive communities and deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, said: "It is great to see this long-awaited project taking shape.
"The new station will not only be a vast improvement on what came before, but will also link to the wider transport network through the new bus interchange next door as well as the reliable and rapid bus services along the Sprint corridor and the new safe cycle route stretching from the city centre to Alexander Stadium.
"These improved links are vital if we are to encourage people to switch from cars to more sustainable forms of transport, helping us reduce traffic congestion and move towards achieving our #WM2041 target of being a net zero-carbon region within the next 20 years."
The project partnership includes TfWM, 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 and the Ministry of Communities, Housing and Local Government (MCHLG).
