Birmingham City Council Approves National Express' Planning Application

Birmingham City Council has today (15 June 2006) approved the outline planning application for the National Express coach station in Digbeth.

The application was submitted on the 22 March 2006 and determined within the agreed timescale. The application offered a view of how the station could look, presenting details of a new site layout and proposed public space between the station and the City Centre.

The Birmingham-based company will now go forward to develop detailed designs of the internal and external appearances of the coach station.

Mike Lambden, Head of Corporate Affairs, National Express said, "We are extremely thrilled that the first significant phase of the redevelopment has been achieved. We can now confidently continue to focus on the delivery of the coach station that is deserving of our employees and customers who visit Birmingham from around the UK each year".

Councillor Ken Hardeman, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said "We are delighted that Birmingham's long search for a new coach station is over and National Express have commissioned a design which will make a real contribution to Birmingham's on-going renaissance. The new coach station will be an important component for improving accessibility to the city and give a major boost to the expansion of the city centre core and the on-going regeneration of the Irish Quarter and Eastside.

This is a very important gateway to the city and I am sure that this will boost the image of Birmingham to everyone arriving here, and also benefit National Express customers."

National Express has been working closely with MAKE architects to create the vision for the coach station for Birmingham. John Man, MAKE Architects said, "The redevelopment will establish a number of significant benefits, which will greatly improve the physical and social environment in and around Digbeth, and provide a modern facility which will enhance people's experience of coach travel".

Drawings and detail from the outline planning application are being featured at the Council's 'Building the Irish Quarter' design exhibition at MADE on Fazeley Street from 15 June 2006.

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

Interviews from National Express will not be available on Friday 16 June. There will be people available the week commencing Monday 19 June.
National Express will unveil detailed plans of the coach station at a press conference and public open day later on in the year.

For more information please contact Joy Williams on 0121 423 8716 or 07795 267 453.

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