HS2 today began the search for a specialist contractor to build the high speed rail project’s central control centre and maintenance depot, which will create around 500 long-term jobs in Birmingham’s Washwood Heath. The contract – worth an estimated £275m – will see the winning bidder work with HS2 Ltd to transform the 30 hectare brown field site into the nerve centre of the HS2 network. From this point, next to the main line into Birmingham Curzon Street, HS2’s fleet of state-of-the-art high-speed trains will be serviced and maintained, 24 hours a day, seven days a week – ready to provide an unparalleled level of frequency and reliability for passengers across the UK. The depot will include a 40,000 m2 Rolling Stock Maintenance Building, Carriage Wash, Automatic Vehicle Inspection Building and 14 sidings where trains can be stored overnight. Also on the same site will be the Network Integrated Control Centre, the centre of the network’s state-of-the-art signalling and control systems as well as office buildings for cleaners and drivers. HS2 Ltd’s Commercial Director, David Poole said: “The start of the search for a contractor to build Washwood Heath is a real milestone for the HS2 project and a huge long-term opportunity for the area. With main works civils construction now well underway, we are putting the specialist team in place to support operation of the new railway. “Washwood Heath will be at the heart of the operation – and around 500 high skilled jobs based at the depot will be a major boost for the community.” The Washwood Heath site was formerly home to the disused Metro-Cammell railway works which closed in 2004. A team from HS2’s early works contractor LM, completed the demolition of the buildings on the site last year, ready for the start of construction. Once operational, Phase One and 2a will have a fleet of at least 54 trains which will be based at Washwood Heath. These 200m long units can be doubled up to create 400m long trains and will serve destinations beyond the HS2 network – like Liverpool, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow – via a connection to the existing West Coast Main Line at Crewe. Bidders are expected to be shortlisted for the single-stage design and build contract in the summer with contract award in 2023.

Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture, HS2’s main works construction partner for the Northolt to London Euston section of Britain’s new high speed railway, is today launching two new careers-focused initiatives designed to support those who have taken a career break to re-enter employment. In line with HS2’s drive to create employment opportunities for local people and those from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups, the Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture is working in partnership with London-based organisations Women Returners and STEM Returners to actively engage the local community and support individuals who have taken a career break back into work. The Women Returners initiative is aimed at experienced professionals from a variety of backgrounds who took a career break of two years or more. The programme will offer six months’ paid work placements to six candidates, with a high likelihood of ongoing employment on the HS2 project. Participants will receive comprehensive support, including a Career Returners Coaching Programme from Women Returners. In 2020, the joint venture recruited six high-calibre employees through the Women Returners programme, with a 100% conversion into permanent employment. It hopes this year’s programme will encourage more people to join the sector and secure long-term employment in line with their career aspirations. Ambrose Quashie, HS2 Ltd’s Skills Manager for Greater London said: “We have set robust employment and skills targets for all our contractors to ensure that local people benefit from opportunities to work on this once in a lifetime project. “This is a fantastic example of how we are ensuring that those in need of additional support to boost their career can really benefit”. The programme particularly welcomes applications from female returners, as this supports HS2’s aim to address the gender imbalance commonplace in the construction and rail sectors. However, recognising that career breaks for parental care or personal reasons are not exclusive to women, the joint venture also encourages male applicants for the programme.  Fabiana, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Administrator and 2020 Return to Work programme graduate said: “Joining the project through the Return to Work programme really helped me with my confidence to be ready and prepared to come back to work. When you are out of work, it can be hard, and you worry about lots of little things. The support provided is essential”. Alice Jennison, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture explains: “We have already hired six people through our Return to Work programme and we are excited to expand the programme in 2021. We offer tailored support to individuals who are returning to work through coaching, training, mentoring and a dedicated buddy. There are many talented people wanting to return to work and we welcome applications from people with or without infrastructure industry experience.” The joint venture’s second recruitment initiative is an innovative STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) focused programme. Six places will be available on the 12-week programme which is designed for individuals with a STEM-focused career background, such as engineering, or those who have worked in the STEM sector. Mentoring and coaching will be provided to ensure that those returning to work, following a lengthy period of absence, are fully supported.  Following completion of the 12-week programme, successful candidates may be offered full-time positions. The STEM Returners programme has already supported almost 200 candidates and 96% have been offered full-time roles at the end of their placement. For more information about the two back to work programmes, visit womenreturners.com/ for details of the Women Returners programme and stemreturners.com/ for the STEM Returners programme. The joint venture expects to recruit over 4,000 jobs, including employment for around 550 previously unemployed people and 400 apprenticeships to deliver its programme of work on the HS2 project. Details of current opportunities can be found at scsrailways.co.uk/careers/.

One of the world’s oldest surviving pieces of monumental railway architecture to be preserved and enhanced in new HS2 Curzon Street Station. Leader of Birmingham City Council: “This is an important milestone in the transformation of this amazing old building and the new Curzon Street Station will be one of the real show pieces of the entire HS2 network.” HS2 has received the go-ahead from Birmingham City Council to begin the transformative refurbishment of the Old Curzon Street Station, marking the next phase of work around the new high speed terminus in central Birmingham. The agreement with the Council who own the building, enables a long-term lease by HS2, with work due to start on the major revamp early next year by HS2’s enabling works contractor LMJV (Laing O’Rourke and J. Murphy & Sons). The Grade I listed building has been integrated into HS2’s plans for the new Curzon Street Station, which provide an enhanced setting to reflect the history of the old station as well as the Grade II listed Woodman pub. The public space surrounding the station will feature the historic track alignments of the former goods yard that used to lie to its east, and the gardens and new eastern concourse façade have also been designed to complement the architecture of the building. HS2 enabling works contractors LMJV are now ready to start a 12 month programme of work in early 2021, overseen by a conservation specialist. The building was designed by the notable architect Philip Hardwick and opened in 1838, and is now one of the world’s oldest surviving pieces of monumental railway architecture. It was intended to be the boardroom and general offices of the London and Birmingham Railway but was extended to incorporate a hotel by 1841, then turned into a goods station for freight traffic between 1854 and 1860 and subsequently closed on 31 Dec 1965. Having suffered extensive damage during the Birmingham Blitz, and surviving two applications for its demolition in the 1970s, it is now listed on the ‘Heritage at Risk Register’ maintained by Historic England. The refurbishment will see this status change for the first time in over a decade, with future plans to use it as an HS2 visitors centre, with flexible facilities for office space, exhibition purposes and catering. Nicola Henderson-Reid, HS2’s Curzon Street Station Senior Project Manager said: “We’re extremely pleased to get the go-ahead to start work on restoring this fabulous old building, and we’re grateful to Birmingham City Council for their help in developing these designs. “HS2’s Curzon Street Station will be the first brand new intercity terminus station built in Britain since the 19th century, and will play a vital role in our regional economy while preserving this important piece of Birmingham’s history.” Leader of Birmingham City Council, Cllr Ian Ward said: “This is an important milestone in the transformation of this amazing old building and the new Curzon Street Station will be one of the real show pieces of the entire HS2 network. “High speed rail is a game-changer for Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, bringing jobs, homes and opportunities to our city region and for the HS2 Generation – the young people currently growing up across the city – this project will shape their lives and careers.” The refurbishment will be undertaken by infrastructure specialists KN Circet, who have offices in Solihull in the Midlands. The work will include a new steel structural frame to strengthen the building, a new lift giving access to all 4 levels, new glass balustrade for the historic staircase, internal fit-out, roof repairs and structural repairs to the external masonry. KN Circet, trading as KN Network Services Ltd, has carried out heritage restoration projects across the UK railway network predominantly in London and the South East. The company has won and been nominated for railway heritage awards for façade works at Lambeth North, South Kensington and Great Portland Street London Underground stations, and have also carried out façade works at Victoria Station and Waterloo Station for Network Rail. HS2’s Historic Environment Manager, Jon Millward said: “The Old Curzon Street Station has a fascinating history, and as a Grade 1 listed building it’s deemed to be of exceptional interest and is therefore classified as one of the most important buildings in England. It was the first railway terminus serving the centre of Birmingham and built during a period of great significance and growth for the city. “Earlier this year, we unearthed what is thought to be the world’s oldest railway roundhouse situated adjacent to the Old Curzon Street station, and built to a design by the 19th century engineer Robert Stephenson. It’s fantastic that we can preserve the heritage of such an important building as part of the legacy of HS2.” Planning applications for the new Curzon Street Station were approved by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee in April 2020, with the Council’s report concluding the station design “is truly world class”. Eventually, there will be nine trains per hour running in each direction from the station. The Curzon Street Masterplan outlines proposals for 141 hectares of regeneration, along with £724 million in investment into the surrounding area. It envisages the creation of 36,000 new jobs, 4,000 new homes and 600,000 square metres of commercial development.

A full planning application has been put forward for a landmark mixed-use development on London Road in Nottingham, which if approved, will be a prominent gateway building along one of the main arterial routes into the city centre. Plans for the scheme, located at 152-160 London Road, on the site of a former Indian restaurant and car valeting centre, have been developed by Nottingham-based ALB Group, which specialises in the conversion, redevelopment and letting of residential and commercial properties nationwide. The ALB Group has been working alongside CBP Architects for the design of the 100-apartment scheme, which if approved, will comprise one and two-bed apartments with balconies, spacious communal terraces, a ground floor two-storey restaurant, a café and bar, basement car parking and a gym for use by residents. Situated just outside of the Nottingham Urban Design Guide Zone of Reinvention and the Waterside Regeneration Zone, plans for 152-160 London Road have been carefully considered in partnership with Nottingham City Council and its design collaborators, with sustainability and the building’s positive impact on the surrounding areas, identified as primary aspects. The development designs include generous planting schemes and living walls on the balconies and terraces, which have been designed to enhance the ecological value of the site, and will be maintained using grey water recycling through a built-in irrigation and drainage system. Solar panels located on the roof would also provide a sustainable source of electricity to the building. Situated in a prime location close to both city and West Bridgford amenities, the development would be located just a few minutes’ walk from the River Trent, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Notts County and Nottingham Forest FC’s, and Nottingham train station. Arran Bailey, managing director at ALB Group, said: “As one of the main routes into Nottingham, London Road is a prominent location and provides a gateway to both West Bridgford and the rest of the city. We are excited to be submitting plans for this landmark scheme, which if approved, would bring luxury homes and further amenities to the area. The new development would improve the aesthetic of a major gateway, and serve to welcome visitors as they approach and travel through the city. “We have been working closely with Nottingham City Council, CBP Architects and the local community, to ensure the design of the building fits in seamlessly with the environment. The scheme’s contemporary look, complete with natural greenery, would also enhance the view corridor towards Nottingham Castle, which is something Nottingham City Council is keen to maintain. “The apartments would offer residents attractive views of the surrounding vicinity, towards West Bridgford and the city centre. Spacious, open-plan living and quality fixtures and fittings throughout will provide a desirable living experience complete with on-site amenities. Being in such close proximity to Nottingham train station, makes this an ideal location for commuters. Simon Birch, director at CBP Architects, said: “It is a pleasure to be working on plans for such a prominent, residential and commercial development in an unrivalled location in Nottingham. The design of the scheme respects its location on one of the main routes into the city and if plans are approved, it will provide a striking piece of architecture to welcome visitors and commuters along the route. “The contemporary design including living walls and planted terraces will help to bring the building to life and will provide a natural ‘green’ feel to its aesthetic, as well as boasting sustainable energy credentials to maximise the building’s performance and efficiency.” Construction on the development is due to begin in autumn 2021, with works expected to complete by spring 2023.