Government funding of 拢400m will double station concourse and see creation of new public square

The government has announced a 拢400m funding package to redevelop Birmingham New Street station.

The scheme will double the size of the station concourse, and will see a public square, new fa莽ade and three new entrances built. It will also increase passenger capacity to 52 million a year, making New Street the largest rail hub outside of London.

The Department for Transport is stumping up a total of 拢288m; 拢128m set aside after last year鈥檚 White Paper on rail, and an additional 拢160m announced today. DBERR will fund a further 拢100m towards the station, bringing the government鈥檚 total spend on New Street to 拢388m.

Atkins was awarded the detailed design contract for the station last month, as revealed by 好色先生TV. A RIBA competition to design the fa莽ade has now closed and a winner is expected to be announced shortly.