HS2 to share east Birmingham employment land

HIGH-speed rail company HS2 is to share land in Washwood Heath in Birmingham to boost employment in the area.

It means some of the land – part of the former LDV and Alstom sites until now earmarked entirely for HS2 rail maintenance yards – can now be developed out for employment usage. It has been suggested that more than 2,000 jobs could be created as a result.

It is a  development which will be welcomed by city councillors and local MPs – notably Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne – who have long argued that freeing the land up for development purposes would bring many more jobs into an area which is something of an unemployment black spot than solely using it as a rail goods yard.

Now a strategy aimed at regenerating east Birmingham as a whole has been launched.

The East Birmingham Prospectus for Growth, set out by Birmingham City Council, is intended to to deliver positive change through employment and skills, improving connectivity, and delivering growth.

It is suggested this wider plan could see the creation of 9,000 jobs.

Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “These are exciting times for Birmingham, with HS2-related growth in the city centre and UK Central benefiting the whole city. But we must make sure that local people reap the benefits, particularly in the east of the city, which is located between these two growth areas.

“We will achieve this by delivering development which will create and secure jobs, improving access to those jobs and providing the conditions for business growth.

“This prospectus shows our commitment to the east of Birmingham, working with our partners including the GBSLEP and central government to drive through sustainable change and give residents the life chances they deserve.”

An Employment and Skills Partnership has been set up to tackle the issues which have led to sustained high levels of unemployment and low levels of skills in east Birmingham. This partnership will launch a more detailed plan in April.

Proposed transport infrastructure projects in east Birmingham include highways improvements at key junctions and proposals for two rapid transport routes, including plans for further extension of the Metro – linking the city centre with UK Central via Bordesley Green and north Solihull.

Bordesley Park will see 3,000 jobs created at a major new employment site as well as new homes and community facilities, while an area including Shard End will include 1,000 new homes and improvements to local community provision.

There will also be work on retail centres at Erdington, Small Heath, Alum Rock and the Fox and Goose (Ward End).