The construction headquarters of the HS2 high-speed rail project will be based in Birmingham, leading to the creation of 1,500 jobs in the largest-ever public sector relocation to the city.
The base will oversee the building of the £50bn scheme, with decision-making powers transferred there from London, said Birmingham City Council.
The HQ will be housed in the huge 100,000 sq ft Two Snowhill office block in Birmingham’s Colmore business district, thanks to a long-term lease on the building arranged recently by government. It will now undergo a major fit-out ready for work to start in 22 months.
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The authority also announced the set up of a new urban regeneration company to head up the redevelopment around Curzon Street where Birmingham’s HS2 terminus will be built. The move is expected to create a further 14,000 jobs and boost the local economy by up to £1bn a year with the construction to include offices and 2,000 homes.
The 1,500 jobs to be created will include construction posts for designers and surveyors responsible for detailed construction plans for the track, stations and signalling, plus the staff needed to support their work. Some employees will move their base from London to the new HQ but the majority will be new highly skilled jobs for the city.
The relocation is also likely to create thousands of more jobs in the supply chain, with consultancies and engineering firms expected to follow HS2 to Birmingham.
Commenting on the new HQ, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “HS2 is a vital part of our long-term economic plan. By locating the new HS2 engineering HQ in Birmingham we are bringing skilled job opportunities into the area, spreading HS2’s benefits beyond those using the new rail line.
“It is great news that Birmingham City Council has created a company specifically to focus on the regeneration opportunities created by HS2. It will bring new investment and work into the city, helping secure the future prosperity of the region and the country.”
The establishment of the Birmingham Curzon Urban Regeneration Company represents a new approach to driving local economic growth and transferring power away from central government.
The body is intended to create a strong partnership between local and national bodies, its board comprising representatives from the City Council, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, HS2 Ltd and the government.
To accelerate the regeneration of the Curzon Street site, £130m of central government funds have been brought forward to accelerate work to extend the Midland Metro. The Metro will bring tram services into the heart of the Birmingham Curzon area and link the HS2 terminus directly into the local transport system.
Additionally, Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Education Partnership is making an additional investment of £30m to support development activity in the Birmingham Curzon area.
