Metal firm could move without unused HS2 land
A HISTORIC company in Birmingham has promised to “double or triple” its workforce and keep jobs in the city if unused HS2 land was made available.
Bosses at Arkinstall Galvanizing, which has operated out of Digbeth for more than 100 years, fear it may be forced out of Birmingham if land is not found before the end of its 2024 lease. The hot-tip galvanizing firm runs a factory in Barn Street and over the last 12 months claims to have enjoyed a boost to business.
“Now is the right time to make a move and potentially double or triple our workforce,” said managing director Tim Straker.
“HS2 acquired more land than it needs. I have approached them to see if we can move our operations to part of the unused land, but I am yet to hear an answer. We want to move quickly because our landlord will not renew our lease after 2024 – they will kick us out. I asked about extending to 2028 but the landlord wanted big increases to do that.”
Mr Straker said he believes his landlord will instead seek development opportunities.
He added: “That’s not what we want, we’d prefer to stay in Birmingham and extend our factory. Our workforce lives here.”
The existing Arkinstall plant is within 400m of the new HS2 terminal on Curzon Street, which means the company will have to move eventually regardless.
Mr Straker says his company, the only small-to-medium size galvanizer in the West Midlands, will likely be on the HS2 procurement chain for steelwork supply in the future.
“With a bigger unit we could supply directly to HS2,” said Mr Straker, “and we would provide a quicker and better service.”
Whether Arkinstall Galvanizing moves to unused HS2 land would be subject to the Department of Transport clearance.
No comment was forthcoming from HS2.