SLC Property worked for West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) as part of the West Midlands Rail Programme to redevelop Perry Barr station and the adjacent bus interchange as part of the wider regeneration of the area. The station opened in May 2022 and went on to play a key role in the successful delivery of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022
Background
Perry Barr station is located on the line between Birmingham and Walsall and is served by regular services between Wolverhampton and Walsall via Birmingham New Street. The station is located adjacent to One Stop Shopping Centre and is a short walk from the Alexander Stadium. One Stop Shopping Centre is very well served by local buses, which use a series of bus stops at the front of the property.
The previous railway station sat within a row of shops and was constructed in the 1960s. It consisted of a corridor with a small booking office which gave access to the passenger footbridge and platforms. The wider area was being redeveloped in conjunction with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
An entirely new station building has been constructed, together with a new bus interchange. The new station includes a large concourse and ticket office with improved customer information screens, together with new lifts to platform level. Platforms were re-surfaced with tactile paving installed. The new bus interchange is better aligned to the roadway and provides more modern facilities; this allowed creation of a new area of public realm in front of One Stop Shopping Centre which has improved access for pedestrians and provides a level walking route to the station with fewer roads to cross. Whilst forming part of WMCA’s project, the bus interchange was delivered by Birmingham City Council (BCC) in conjunction with their other highway works in the area.
Services provided:
- Worked closely with BCC on their Compulsory Purchase Order for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which included acquisition of the leases for the shops which sat within the footprint of the new station building. We supported BCC in the extinguishment of these leases, and of the headlease which was acquired by BCC.
- Successfully negotiated the acquisition of a parcel of land from the owners of One Stop Shopping Centre. This land has now been transferred to Network Rail and forms part of the new station, allowing for improved cycle and drop off facilities.
- Land Referencing for the various plots of land required for the scheme.
- Strategic advice in the form of a Land & Consents Strategy, which is the standard and requisite document for development on or around operational railway land.
- Worked with BCC on highways dedications to ensure there is access via public highway to the new station.
- Negotiated a wayleave, easement, and lease with Western Power (now National Grid) for the new station DNO.
- Assisted WMCA in negotiating a compensation package with West Midlands Trains, allowing services at the station to be temporarily suspended during construction.
- Worked on a Material Change Proposal, issued by WMCA, which was subsequently accepted and approved. We also provided other support relating to Station Access and drafted a Minor Modification Proposal.
- Supported negotiations with One Stop Shopping Centre to allow redevelopment of the bus interchange on their land.
- Negotiated licences with BCC, which allowed access to their adjacent land for use as a site compound, and which allowed access to BCC owned land which was redeveloped as part of the station redevelopment.
