HS2’s maintenance and control centre gets the green light

Maintenance Building. Credit: HS2

HS2’s plans for its maintenance and control centre have been approved today (February 2) by Birmingham City Council.

The Washwood Heath Depot will be where HS2 trains will be maintained, serviced and stored when not in use.

Set to create 550 jobs, the facility in the north east of Birmingham, will include the Maintenance Building, Network Integrated Control Centre (NICC) and Cleaners and Drivers Building.

All buildings will feature solar panels, sustainable drainage, renewable energy, low carbon materials and will reuse rainwater runoff from some of the building roofs. Each will have a specifically designed landscape theme, outdoor social spaces for staff, and areas which restore biodiversity and wider habitat connections.

The designs have been produced by HS2’s Engineering Delivery Partner (EDP).

The Maintenance Building will be used to maintain the HS2 train fleet along with facilities to store materials and equipment. It includes office accommodation, workshops and staff welfare facilities. Around 250 staff will work in the building, including facilities management, fleet management, production, cleaning, and depot drivers.

Network Integrated Control Centre (NICC)

The Network Integrated Control Centre will oversee the whole HS2 network. The standalone building, will be designed to accommodate the operational and management functions of the HS2 network. More than 100 staff will be based here.

Around 200 staff will be based in the Cleaners and Drivers Building. This will host facilities for train servicing teams and driver training and will be linked to the stabling yard area, where trains will be cleaned and replenished, ready for passenger service.

Cleaners and Drivers Building

Accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists has been incorporated into the design, with dedicated pedestrian and cyclist routes connecting with Birmingham’s future transport network. In addition to car parks, provision is included for electric vehicle charging points, cycle and motorcycle parking for staff and visitors, and parking for individuals with limited mobility at all depot facilities, alongside taxi and delivery vehicle drop off zones.

Work on site to date includes demolition of buildings and groundworks to prepare the site for the construction of the new Depot and Control Centre.

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