Birmingham Airport £1bn Tram Plan Aims to 'Change Lives' and Boost Connectivity
Ambitious plans for a £1 billion tram line connecting key destinations in East Birmingham and North Solihull have been unveiled, promising to be a "life transforming" infrastructure project for the region. The proposal, revealed after intensive high-level discussions, outlines a new Metro line extending from Birmingham city centre through Digbeth to a series of significant locations, including the NEC, Birmingham Airport and the HS2 interchange.
The proposed route would begin at Curzon Street, the site of the new HS2 station, and travel through Digbeth, a burgeoning entertainment hub. Crucially, the first phase of the line is intended to reach the proposed £2.9 billion super-stadium and sports quarter for Birmingham City FC in Bordesley Green. The ambition is for this initial section to be operational by 2030, coinciding with the anticipated opening of the new stadium and securing the go-ahead for the ambitious development.
Subsequent phases of the project would see the tram line extended further east, connecting to Heartlands Hospital, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham Airport and ultimately the HS2 interchange and Arden Cross, the site of a proposed health and science campus in north Solihull.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker and American investor Tom Wagner, CEO of Birmingham City FC's owners Knighthead, have been actively lobbying government ministers for the project. The draft proposal, themed "Invest a Little, Unlock a Lot," argues that an initial investment of £350-400 million in the transport link could unlock billions in private funding and create thousands of jobs, particularly linked to the Birmingham City FC development.
Described as a project of national significance, comparable to building a new runway at Heathrow, the proponents hope to see the first phase completed within five years and the entire line operational within a decade.
Speaking on the renewed momentum behind the long-discussed project, Mayor Parker stated, "We are working really closely with Government. I have spoken to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and taken Tom Wagner to Number 10, as we all want this to be joined up."
While similar plans have been mooted for over a decade without coming to fruition, there is now a strong sense of optimism that the collaborative effort between regional leaders and private investors, coupled with the potential economic benefits, could finally see this transformative tram line become a reality, significantly enhancing connectivity and driving development in the East Birmingham and North Solihull areas. The project will undoubtedly be of keen interest to construction firms across the UK as it progresses.
The proposed route would begin at Curzon Street, the site of the new HS2 station, and travel through Digbeth, a burgeoning entertainment hub. Crucially, the first phase of the line is intended to reach the proposed £2.9 billion super-stadium and sports quarter for Birmingham City FC in Bordesley Green. The ambition is for this initial section to be operational by 2030, coinciding with the anticipated opening of the new stadium and securing the go-ahead for the ambitious development.
Subsequent phases of the project would see the tram line extended further east, connecting to Heartlands Hospital, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham Airport and ultimately the HS2 interchange and Arden Cross, the site of a proposed health and science campus in north Solihull.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker and American investor Tom Wagner, CEO of Birmingham City FC's owners Knighthead, have been actively lobbying government ministers for the project. The draft proposal, themed "Invest a Little, Unlock a Lot," argues that an initial investment of £350-400 million in the transport link could unlock billions in private funding and create thousands of jobs, particularly linked to the Birmingham City FC development.
Described as a project of national significance, comparable to building a new runway at Heathrow, the proponents hope to see the first phase completed within five years and the entire line operational within a decade.
Speaking on the renewed momentum behind the long-discussed project, Mayor Parker stated, "We are working really closely with Government. I have spoken to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and taken Tom Wagner to Number 10, as we all want this to be joined up."
While similar plans have been mooted for over a decade without coming to fruition, there is now a strong sense of optimism that the collaborative effort between regional leaders and private investors, coupled with the potential economic benefits, could finally see this transformative tram line become a reality, significantly enhancing connectivity and driving development in the East Birmingham and North Solihull areas. The project will undoubtedly be of keen interest to construction firms across the UK as it progresses.
