Plans for new Perry Barr station go for approval

Plans for a renewed station at Perry Barr have been submitted to Birmingham City Council.

Plans for a new station at Perry Barr in Birmingham, first revealed in November 2019, have now been submitted to Birmingham City Council for approval

The current station at Perry Barr is often regarded as one of the most outdated and unattractive railway stations in the region. Under the new plans, however, it is set to be replaced with a new, fit-for-purpose landmark station.

As the plans were submitted, new images were released to show how the new station would look. The building will include multiple entrances, a ticket office, an accessible toilet and baby change facility, an out-of-hours entrance, lifts and new stairs.

Further improvements include step free access, planters, passenger seating and cycle racks.

The new Perry Barr station will serve Alexander Stadium, home of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Due to be completed in time for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, ready to receive spectators heading to the nearby Alexander Stadium for the athletics events and the opening and closing ceremonies, the development will provide a high quality and accessible station with strong links to north Birmingham’s road, bus and cycle networks and is part of the wider £500 million regeneration of the Perry Barr area.

Additional plans for the nearby bus interchange will be submitted later this year.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “This new station demonstrates the benefit to local people and local jobs from our region’s success in securing the Commonwealth Games.

“Because we secured the Games, we’ve been able to bring forward long awaited investment that will improve things for commuters, and visitors for years to come. And that will help the area benefit even more from huge investment in this part of Birmingham.”

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), working through Transport for West Midlands, and the West Midlands Rail Executive are collaborating with rail industry partners Network Rail, West Midlands Trains and Birmingham City Council on the development.

Cllr Ian Ward, who is WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, commented: “I’m sure most people would agree this new station will be a vast improvement on what we have currently.

“The station and bus interchange are important parts of the wider Perry Barr redevelopment project which will improve transport connectivity for people in north Birmingham.

“It is also part of the wider improvements to our railway, bus, tram and cycle networks as we bid to change the way people travel across the region.”