HS2’s Interchange station to create 1,000 extra jobs

THE construction of HS2 Ltd’s new £370 million Interchange station, near Solihull in the West Midlands, will create up to 1,000 jobs over at least the next five years.

Newly appointed contractor Laing O’Rourke confirmed the news on September 6, when major figures from construction and politics visited the site of the project, which is still in its very early stages.

The main contractor will start work next year on the detailed design work for the extensively revised station building. The 400-acre site - within a triangle of land formed by the M42, A45 and A452 roads - is currently being prepared by Balfour Beatty VINCI ready for construction to begin in 2024.

Laing O’Rourke then has three years to complete the station, in advance of the railway opening between 2029-33.

Up to five trains per hour are planned to pass through the interchange station in both directions, with an estimated total of 175,000 seats per day,

HS2 says it will be the catalyst for “huge growth plans in Solihull, creating an economic transformation for the region”. The plans, being led by the Urban Growth Company, will support 30,000 jobs, up to 3,000 new homes, and 70,000m2 of commercial space.

“HS2 is already delivering for the region today,” said West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.

“It will support local industry with supply chain contracts including construction-related services, specialist equipment supply, and manufactured components, as well as catering, cleaning, printing and recycling.”

Infrastructure company AECOM, which is based in the United States and has 51,000 employees worldwide, has been appointed as Laing O’Rourke’s design partner to see the interchange project through to completion.

There was a complete rethink in 2020, following a review into why costs rose by £100 million in the space of a year. Arup carried out earlier design work, which featured a number of ecofriendly features that included maximising the amount of natural daylight entering the building and capturing rainwater for re-use.

Interchange is the last of four station contracts to be finalised to complete the first phase of HS2. Euston (London) and Curzon Street (Birmingham) are the responsibility of Mace/Dragados JV, while Balfour Beatty/VINCI/SYSTRA JV is building Old Oak Common.