HS2 Ltd announced on 1 September the shortlist of bidders for the contract to build the eco-friendly Interchange station in Solihull with the contract expected to be awarded in 2022. The tender was launched in June 2021.
The bidders that will be invited to tender are:
- Laing O’Rourke Construction
- Skanska Construction UK
- Unity – a joint venture between Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick, supported by a subcontractor, WSP
The winner of the contract, worth up to GBP 370 million (EUR 430.87 million), will develop the detailed design of the station before construction begins and the station takes shape over the next few years.
The construction site for the station covers an area of 150 hectares and is located within a triangle of land formed by the M42, A45 and A452. Work so far has included the construction of modular bridges over the M42 and A446, and remodelling of the road network in the area to facilitate access to the new station.
HS2 Ltd has worked with Arup to design the station to be net zero in operation, which is a key part of HS2’s strategy to reduce carbon and build the most sustainable railway in the world.
The Interchange station will be crossed by five trains per hour in both directions with an estimated total of 175,000 seats per day, making this one of the best connected transport interchanges in the country and a new gateway to the UK.
“This is a major milestone in the delivery of our HS2 stations. We’re looking forward to working with the winning bidder on our award-winning designs, to build a world class, eco-friendly station that will play a major role in helping us deliver Britain’s new low-carbon railway,” HS2’s Stations Director Matthew Botelle said.
The station is the first railway station globally to achieve the BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ certification at the design stage putting it in the top 1% of buildings in the UK for eco-friendly credentials. This recognises the features of the eco-friendly Interchange station including maximising natural daylight and ventilation, a station roof design which can capture and reuse rainwater, and features to enable net zero carbon emissions from day-to-day energy consumption. Energy efficient technology will also be incorporated, such as air source heat pumps and LED lighting.
The contract is set to support 1,000 jobs, creating a major economic boost for people and businesses in the Midlands. The wider regeneration opportunities around the station will support 30,000 jobs, up to 3,000 new homes and 70,000m2 of commercial space.
Share on:
