Birmingham to promote £1.3bn worth of transport schemes at MIPIM

BUSINESS Birmingham, the city’s inward investment body, is highlighting an investment package of £1.3bn in its transport infrastructure at international real estate event MIPIM next week.

The investment will flow into the city over the next four years through eight major projects, all of which are due for completion by 2015.The developments are designed to improve local connectivity for businesses and residents, as well as enhancing national and international infrastructure.

The projects include the £65m runway extension at Birmingham Airport, the £600m Gateway redevelopment of New Street rail station, a £127m extension of the Midland Metro tram system through the heart of the city’s shopping district
And an £11m rapid transit system known as Sprint, running between Five Ways in the city centre and Walsall to the north.

The longer term impact of the transport infrastructure investment is being coupled with the opening of HS2 – the £17 bn high speed rail link between Birmingham and London.

The case for investing in Birmingham is to be outlined at MIPIM during a special presentation ‘Global City, Local Heart – Totally Connected’, which is being staged at the Business Birmingham stand in the Palais des Festivals next Wednesday.

Geoff Inskip, chief executive of the region’s integrated transport authority Centro, said: “Successful cities have excellent connectivity – international, national and local – and our £1.3bn transport package will secure massive benefits for businesses and passengers.”