APPROVED: A Scientific Research Facility & a new University Rail Station!

Approval has been granted today for two major developments over at the University of Birmingham.

Exciting times for the city, and for the region as a whole.

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The new station comes when the existing station currently struggles with over capacity.

It was built in the 1970s as part of the introduction of the Cross-City Line and was designed for accommodate 400,000 passengers per year and, except for some modifications in the 1990s during electrification, it has remained fairly untouched since.

Today, the station is used by approximately 3.48 million passengers per year, with numbers expected to top 7 million passengers by 2043.

To significantly accommodate and meet these increased capacity requirements, a new station is needed, which will now deliver:

• Enhanced passenger facilities & improved connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists;
• A new footbridge over the canal linking University of Birmingham campus to the new station;
• Improved & upgraded amenities (changing rooms/retail etc) and more efficient operation, reducing over-crowding;
• Wider platforms with longer canopies, lift access & heated waiting rooms;
• Large public open space improving the approach to the station;
• A spacious new public realm area linking the existing station to the new entrance which includes pick up/drop off and cycle storage facilities.

The existing station building will not be totally demolished, the exit will be refurbished and incorporated into the project and used to facilitate a safe, fluid passenger flow across the site, as seen below.

No passenger car parking is included in these plans, however, four spaces for staff (including 1 accessible) will be provided and located adjacent to the main entrance.

27 trees will have to be removed as part of plans; to mitigate their loss, 18 are scheduled to be planted within the landscaped public space, with a potential 60 planted to the rear of Platform 2, as seen below. 

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Also approved!

This 12,790 sqm modular sciences academic building will comprise of a world class research facility.

The development forms the first phase by the University of Birmingham to create a flagship facility for world class scientific research, with this project specifically delivering flexible science space, with a focus on thematic research.

Part 6/7 storeys tall, the new building will accommodate up to 500-600 people and will primarily focus on chemical, environmental and biomolecular sciences within post-graduate and academic research. 

The School of Chemistry, a team of environmental scientists from the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (GEES), and a postgraduate research student centre will relocate to the site.

A range of specialist lab spaces for Chemistry & GEES research will be incorporated;

• Synthetic chemistry – fume cupboard intense primary labs;
• Specialist labs including NMR & MRI, Mass Spec & Chromatography, Laser Labs, Cell Biology etc;
• Academic and open-plan offices, meeting rooms;
• Post-Graduate Research Hub

The building will also comprise of lecture, tutorial and research rooms, breakout spaces, Skype rooms, plus waste and containment rooms.

Outside, a new landscaped plaza will be created with significant new tree planting. A new cycle route is also proposed with new covered spaces for a minimum 23 cycles. Three accessible parking bays will be included.

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Words by Stephen Giles, with exclusive artists impressions from Associated Architects

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