Regeneration of Perry Barr Continues
The regeneration of Perry Barr in advance of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has taken another step forward with the approval of plans for a new bus interchange.
The scheme is part of a £30.9 million transport interchange development which includes the neighbouring Perry Barr railway station, which is also undergoing a major redevelopment as the principal station for Alexander Stadium, the focal point of next summer’s games.
Plans for the bus interchange, which have been drawn up by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) with support from Birmingham City Council, will see an overhaul of how services pick up and drop off passengers. There will also be an improved frontage to the One Stop Shopping Centre with an expanded, pedestrianised public space.
This project is being backed with funding from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
The scheme, which has been given approval by Birmingham City Council, has been developed in partnership with TfWM, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), to integrate with the new rail station and offer quick and easy transfers between buses and trains, whilst leaving a lasting transport legacy for the area.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and Chair of the WMCA, said: “With up to one million spectators expected over the 12 days of the Games, it is vital that our public transport network offers easy, safe and reliable services. This new Perry Barr bus interchange, alongside the new station, will help us do that.
“Not only will the Games help to show the leading role the West Midlands is playing in public transport investment to tackle climate change, but the transport infrastructure investments we’re making – such as this new interchange – will help leave a legacy of improved transport for future generations.”
Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council and WMCA portfolio holder for transport, added: “The new transport interchange is a key part of a wider transformation that will make Perry Barr one of the most connected places in Birmingham and the wider region.
“Not only will it provide a gateway for many visitors heading to the Alexander Stadium, it will also leave a lasting legacy for people in north Birmingham.
“We want to make these Games the greenest ever held and to help do that we need to make sure the easiest way to get around during Birmingham 2022 will be by public transport, cycling or walking. This will not only help cut carbon emissions and air pollution around our venues but also help keep everyone in the region moving next summer.”
The existing bus interchange is considered dated and inefficient with passengers having to cross traffic lanes to get to services and other local amenities.
Developed by TfWM, the draft transport plan has been drawn up in partnership with Birmingham 2022 and Birmingham City Council.
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