National Express Submit Plans to Relocate to a Temporary Coach Station A planning application has been submitted today (30 December) to Birmingham City Council (BCC) for the National Express coach operation in Birmingham to relocate to a temporary site in Oxford Street, directly opposite the existing Digbeth site. The aim of the relocation is to ensure National Express customers, staff and coach operations are not affected by the future redevelopment of Digbeth coach station, and to ensure a speedy transformation of the existing site into Birmingham's newest landmark and gateway to the city. If planning permission is granted, the site previously part of the Volkswagen garage/showroom room will be known as Birmingham coach station. Bounded by Oxford Street, Coventry Street and Meriden Street, it is directly opposite Digbeth coach station. A short term lease would be taken on site with the intention of moving back onto the main site by mid-2008. Marc Sangster, Director of Strategy at National Express said, "The planning application marks the start of an exciting time for National Express in Birmingham. We are delighted to have found a site which has a great location and will provide excellent temporary facilities, better than that currently offered at the existing site. The move to a temporary site will help to confirm our intentions to build a new world class coach station that the people of Birmingham can be proud of". A copy of the planning application for Birmingham's temporary coach station is available for inspection at BCC's office at Alpha Tower. National Express will also be holding an open public exhibition, at a venue to be confirmed, on Friday 20 January (10.00 - 20.00) and Saturday 21 January (09.00 - 16.00) where people will be able to look at the proposals with representatives from National Express and its team of professional advisors. As part of the multi-million pound redevelopment, National Express has appointed MAKE architects to design a world class coach station for Birmingham. The redevelopment will deliver a number of significant benefits which, in brief, will assist with the regeneration of the Irish Quarter; 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. Mr. Sangster added, "We will submit an outline planning application for Digbeth Coach Station to BCC in early 2006. It is our intention that the redevelopment of Digbeth coach station will be complete and re-opened by mid-2008." -ENDS-
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