Curzon Street station is situated in Eastside, just northeast of Birmingham city centre, next to Moor Street Station and near Digbeth. The 141-hectare redevelopment corridor spans Eastside, the city centre core, and parts of Digbeth and is being regenerated as part of the major High Speed 2 (HS2) infrastructure project.

Why was regeneration needed?

Before HS2, the site included:

• The Grade I listed Curzon Street railway station (first built in 1838, closed in 1966), surrounded by industrial warehouses, derelict plots and surface car parks (pictured below)

• The area of Eastside was a mix of obsolete factories and some educational and cultural buildings, including Birmingham City University and Aston University

• Park Street Gardens burial ground and historic pubs like The Woodman and The Fox & Grapes pub (which have been controversially demolished to make way for regeneration)

Features of the regeneration

Curzon Street Station

This is the first new intercity terminal station built in Britain since the 19th century and will have seven platforms and an elegant arched roof to reflect its Victorian heritage. However, it will be a modern, sustainable design with over 2,800 m² of solar panels and a target of net-zero carbon emissions.

The regeneration incorporates the historic 1838 Curzon Street station building which will be a new visitor centre and office hub, connected via a series of columns to the new station. The station design also includes four public open spaces (Station Square, Curzon Square, the Promenade, and Paternoster Place) and parking for over 5,550 bicycles.

The Curzon HS2 Masterplan and surrounding regeneration

This masterplan was written in 2014 and established six 'Places for Growth', identifying areas in Eastside, Digbeth, and the city centre for major redevelopment opportunities. The Curzon Regeneration Company was set up as a public‑private driver of this vision.

Infrastructure improvements include an extension to the West Midlands Metro that will join the the HS2 rail network, Eastside City Park enhancement, new streetscape plans, and transport connections to education buildings in Digbeth and Eastside.

Curzon Street today

Curzon Street is still under construction, and will be for some time, however, it is already shaping regeneration. Foundations were laid early 2024, and the first viaduct sections (Curzon 3) are complete. The raised viaduct has provided areas for public space below in the future. Construction of the station is expected to continue until the end of this decade, becoming operational in early–mid 2030s

The regeneration has had a positive multiplier effect in terms of other development projects. Planning applications within 1.5 miles of Curzon station have increased by 66%, and residential proposals have increased fivefold since HS2 approval in 2017. A £10 billion economic uplift is projected over the next decade around HS2, such as innovation zones like the Birmingham Innovation Quarter.

Has regeneration been a success?

Curzon Street is viewed as a project that will transform transport infrastructure - it will be a globally significant transport hub and will act as a catalyst for future city centre regeneration. As a result of the project, investment into new housing, offices and cultural and education developments has increased significantly.

The design of Curzon Street is recognised as sustainable and inclusive - the station has been designed with accessibility, green space, and historic conservation in mind, blending old and new HS2.

However, the whole HS2 project has been highly controversial and has changed significantly which has had an impact on the Curzon Street project. Originally two lines were supposed to go from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds, however these branches of the project have been scrapped, which means only three out of the seven platforms that have been built, will be used - so there are concerns that the station will have a much higher capacity than needed, and that the expensive infrastructure will be underused.

The project has also faced extensive delays - Curzon Street was supposed to be completed in 2028, but it will now be completed in the early 2030s. The cost of the Curzon Investment Plan has also increased from £570 million to £724 million. The project has also had a huge impact of the local community in terms of disruption and displacement, and developers have struggled to regenerate the area whilst protecting local character and heritage.