The long-awaited redevelopment of Birmingham's New Street Station is due to get the go-ahead today.
The city council’s planning committee was expected to approve the first phase of the £600 million Gateway project.
Once work starts on the scheme later in the year it will create up to 1,000 new jobs.
The revamped New Street will feature:
* A concourse more than three times bigger than the current one topped by a light-filled atrium.
* More accessible and clearer platforms reached by 26 escalators and 14 lifts.
* A stunning new facade.
* Eight entrances giving better links for pedestrians.
* The demolition of Stephenson Tower to create a new plaza.
* The creation of a Birmingham version of the “Spanish Steps” in Station Street and Hill Street.
* Stands for 52 bikes – an increase on the current 24 to encourage more passengers to “bike and ride”.
Cars will access the station via Hill Street, while the taxi rank will be in Smallbrook Queensway.
Changes will also be carried out to the Pallasades Shopping Centre to accommodate the new atrium.
Network Rail has pledged that during the work it will be business as usual with little impact on the 140,000 passengers who use New Street each day.
Work began last September preparing the grounds and once planners give the go ahead phase one will see the new concourse being built in a former car park next to the station.
This is expected to open in 2012 and then the second phase will begin. The entire project is expected to be complete by 2015.
