HS2’s eco-friendly Interchange station approved

Plans for the 2.3km automated people mover elevate shuttle, due out to tender in October, were also approved by Sandwell council.

The station, which will be at the heart of the HS2 network in the Midlands, recently became the first railway station globally to achieve the BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ certification at the design stage  – putting it in the top 1% of buildings in the UK for eco-friendly credentials.

The station’s design makes use of renewable technologies, and in operation, the station will use natural ventilation, daylight, harvested rainwater and solar energy to cut carbon.

HS2’s next milestone is to award the construction partner contract in 2022, with construction planned to start in 2024.

Enabling works contractors Laing O’Rourke and Murphy are presently on site installing bridges and roads ahead of main construction.

HS2’s design consultants ARUP have worked closely with their landscape architects Churchman Thornhill Finch to develop a design which celebrates the local context and biodiversity of its native landscape associated with the Forest of Arden.

updated: 28/08/2020