Planning permission granted for HS2 twin viaducts

Twin viaducts have received planning permission to carry HS2 services through central Birmingham by the city council.

Consent is already in place for the viaduct through the HS2 Act, but detailed designs have now been given the go ahead.

The viaducts, measuring 300 metres in length, will stretch from Curzon Street station, across the Digbeth Branch Canal and over Ladywood Middleway and are to be made from weathered steel.

Being created by BBV (Balfour Beatty Vinci JV), the structure will comprise of two consecutive viaducts which will split into four decks from the station, before merging into a single deck made of concrete.

The viaducts will be supported by 35 concrete piers. It is proposed that an extra four bespoke piers will intersect with the Digbeth Branch Canal.

Concerns have been shared however regarding graffiti.

A planning officer said HS2 was firm in saying “they have zero tolerance of graffiti and they have a maintenance regime that they will adhere to of their structures”.

She said: “In addition, it is a unique consenting regime as to how we look at HS2 matters so the underside of the viaduct is something that will come through in the future and it could well be that as we design what’s going to go under there, that also has an impact on how that is dealt with.”