HS2 Interchange station has been approved just a few miles from the Warwick district border

An interchange station for HS2 has been approved just a few miles from the Warwick district border.

The planning application for the station in Solihull and the surrounding landscape, along with the Automated People Mover, were approved yesterday (Wednesday August 26) by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.

While many residents have raised concerns about the loss of green space to create the project, HS2 said the station recently became the first railway station globally to achieve the BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ certification at the design stage – putting it in the top one per cent of buildings in the UK for eco-friendly credentials.

The station’s design makes use of renewable technologies and an Automated People Mover will link to the NEC, Birmingham International Station and Birmingham Airport, carrying up to 2,100 passengers per hour in each direction, with a service every three minutes along a 2.3km route.

HS2’s stations director Matthew Botelle said: “We’re extremely pleased to receive approval for the design of Interchange station, which will be net zero carbon in operation, and adopts the latest eco-friendly design and sustainable technologies.

"The operation of our stations will play a key role in the UK’s fight against climate change and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Our architects and engineers have worked together with landscape architects, soil scientists, ecologists and water specialists to develop a truly unique, landscape-led, contextual proposition which draws on the local Arden setting for its inspiration, with lots of new habitats for wildlife.”