Birmingham-based UK Mail is being forced out of its UK national hub to Coventry – because of the HS2 high-speed rail line.

The national postal group is uprooting to new 200,000 sq ft premises on the former Peugeot car factory site at Ryton next year after HS2 compulsorily bought its base near Washwood Heath.

All 450 workers at UK Mail are being offered new jobs at Coventry – but UK Mail chief executive Guy Buswell admitted the move was “not ideal”.

“From our point of view, there is a massive business continuity investment in it,” he said.

“We are on a very strategic site for the line and it is a very important location for them.

“Our business is doing very well and we are growing the business, which means more jobs.

“We have looked at other sites in the area and we would have preferred to move somewhere nearer but we couldn’t find anywhere suitable. Coventry is the nearest location.

“Not everybody will be able to come with us but there is a job for everybody who wants to relocate to the new building.

“It is not ideal, it is a hassle in some respects, but it gives us the opportunity to expand.”

Mr Buswell said all 450 workers at UK Mail’s Birmingham site would be offered roles at Coventry, with more new jobs in the pipeline when the group opens a new base in north Birmingham.

“We are going through a consultation period with staff and I hope everybody comes with us,” he said.

“A lot of people will go to the north Birmingham site which we will open in 2015.”

He said no location had yet been decided for the new city operation.

“I am a big supporter of HS2 and I think it will bring a lot of business to this area,” Mr Buswell added.

“I believe HS2 is in a very strong position having knocked back three judicial reviews. I think it is a very good development for Birmingham.”

UK Mail’s current premises – the former home of Business Post – comprise a total of 180,000 sq ft of accommodation.

News of the company’s move came 24 hours after it emerged that plans to breathe new life into the old LDV factory at Washwood Heath had been put on ice because of HS2.

The regeneration scheme was mothballed because the rail project will swallow the whole site.