STATIONS AS PLACES DRAFT Opportunity Prospectus - BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILL STATION - An integrated vision and delivery masterplan for Birmingham Snow ...
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STATIONS AS PLACES DRAFT Opportunity Prospectus An integrated vision and delivery masterplan for Birmingham Snow Hill Station BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILL STATION March 2021
FOREWORD
Introducing the concept of Stations as Places
The Stations as Places programme aims to promote local railway stations as community ‘hubs’ rather than simply access
points onto the rail network. The vision is to develop local railway stations as an asset highly valued within the community,
contributing to economic growth and acting as a hub for creativity, heritage and social amenity.
The Vision
“We will develop stations as quality gateways between communities and the railway, supporting the changing
needs of our passengers, residents and visitors. Stations in the West Midlands will be community assets,
supporting the wellbeing and development of the areas they serve through involving local community and
business.”
~ West Midlands Station Alliance (WMSA) Mission Statement
What does the prospectus do for Birmingham Snow Hill Station?
There is an important role for the railway to play in both the economic and social regeneration of the local areas which our
stations serve. This Opportunity Prospectus sets out the economic, social and geographic landscape of the area around the
station and highlights some of the opportunities for commercial development, partnership working, inward investment and
community regeneration.
We have included a profile of Snow Hill station in this document and looked at different types of activity neighbouring the
station, from development in the surrounding area to the travelling public and local authorities using existing assets in
different ways.
Snow Hill lies in the Snow Hill area of Birmingham city centre and acts as a major gateway to the city centre and the
surrounding areas. Significant development around the Snow Hill District will bring new homes, office space, retail space
and community space to the city. Furthermore, with Birmingham hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Phase 1 of
High Speed Two (HS2) between London and Birmingham being completed between 2028 and 2031, the city will experience
significant local and regional growth in employment, visitor footfall and spending. Birmingham Snow Hill Station will be an
increasingly important transport gateway, making now a key moment to identify opportunities for improvement at the station
and for further strengthening the role of the station in the community and local economy.
Coronavirus (Covid-19) Reviving our Railway The Covid-19 pandemic has caused massive economic and social disruption. Rail operation across the country was placed into an Emergency Management Agreement with the Department for Transport, which subsequently, has now been superseded by an Emergency Recovery Management Agreement. We were proud to keep our railways running during the pandemic to serve key workers and allow them to travel safely. We are now in a phase of reviving our railways and the communities they serve. There are big new challenges for our Stations as Places Programme: • Passenger numbers will take time to recover. • The way in which station buildings are used has changed. • City, town and local centres will have to reinvent themselves as retailers withdraw and office buildings are less full. • Ways of funding new investment will need to be transformational. Stations as Places will be forward looking and opportunistic. ‘The moment is now’ for stations to harness community spirit, pursue more entrepreneurial ways of using station buildings and support the revitalisation of high streets and local centres.
Contents
Chapter Page
Why ‘Stations as Places’ for Birmingham Snow Hill Station? 2
Bringing our partners together 3
About Birmingham Snow Hill Station 4–9
The Headline Opportunities – The Station 10
The Headline Opportunities – The Surrounding Area 11 – 12
Opportunity Plan 13
Understanding the potential for growth 14
The Aspiration 15 - 16
Development Opportunities 17
Opportunities for Investment 18
Action Plan 19
Who to contact and how to get involved 20
1
Why ‘Stations as Places’ for Birmingham Snow Hill Station?
Who are the West Midlands Station Alliance?
The WMSA is a formal alliancing arrangement between industry partners with a common
THE VISION vision and forward plan, including infrastructure owner Network Rail, station facilities
owner Chiltern Railways, operator West Midlands Trains (WMT) and West Midlands Rail
Executive. The role of the WMSA is to facilitate Stations as Places by bringing together
various stakeholders to work together in partnership, ensuring that the Stations as Places
vision and local aspirations are shared between the stakeholders, the infrastructure owner,
the station facilities owner and the local government.
Why has Snow Hill Station been selected?
Birmingham Snow Hill railway station, located on the Chiltern Main Line, North Warwickshire Line and
Birmingham to Worcester Line is an important station for commuters into Birmingham and London
Marylebone, as well as other destinations such as Worcester and Solihull.
With the 2022 Commonwealth Games approaching, major business moving their offices/headquarters to
Birmingham and HS2 creating stronger links between London and Birmingham, this is an important time for
investment in the station and the surrounding area, delivering improvements which would benefit regular
users, the local community and businesses in the town. This Prospectus provides an opportunity to engage
with the stakeholders of Snow Hill station to capture opportunities and commitment to delivering
improvements at the station to enhance it as a key gateway and transport hub to both support investment
and growth in the city centre and wider region.
The drivers for developing this location
Passenger numbers at Snow Hill increased by 4.7% between 2018/19 and 2019/20 and increased
significantly over the previous years. The station sits in the top five busiest stations in the West Midlands,
and passenger numbers are expected to continue increasing, post COVID. The city centre itself suffers from
congestion and poor air quality; it is therefore essential that passengers are encouraged to access the
station using sustainable modes of transport. In turn, increasing footfall around the station presents an
opportunity for businesses to benefit. Proposals to introduce more office space around Snow Hill station,
development of Enterprise Zones and the creation of St Mary’s Place through the redevelopment and
innovative reuse of historic buildings in Steelhouse Lane, will only increase use of the station. Combined with
the 2022 Commonwealth Games placing Birmingham on an international stage, HS2 being built between
London and Birmingham, proposals to redevelop the station and work to improve the public realm outside
the station, highlight the need to ensure the station itself and surrounding area deliver an equally welcoming
and attractive gateway to the city.
2
Bringing our Partners together
Our stakeholders really matter to us. Stakeholder feedback is key to creating a prospectus that resonates with different audiences and
ensures consensus on the future of the station and surrounding area. We want to ensure that what we collect and receive is representative
and inclusive. Our approach to capturing local insights around Snow Hill covers the following four dimensions:
LOCAL PERSPECTIVE SOCIAL VALUE
Railways stations should reflect and cater for the Transforming a railway station from a ‘passenger
local community to which it serves thoroughfare’ into a genuine community asset will
To help shape the future of the station to meet the needs have a positive impact on the local community
of the local community, involving them in the planning Residents and businesses are more likely to take
process is critical. Community involvement helps to ownership of their local station if it is a pleasant and safe
make a station a more attractive and valuable community place to be, meets their needs and represents local
asset. Stations as Places aims to establish strong links people and heritage. A railway station as a valued
between the station management and businesses, the community hub can offer a real contribution to improving
community and other local stakeholders, ensuring that social inclusion and mental wellbeing; from promoting
the voice of the community is heard. inclusivity through community groups or simply making
waiting as a part of a morning commute more pleasant.
LEGACY COMMUNITY
An important objective of Stations as Places is to A railway station is often a great asset to a
provide a long-term legacy by establishing integration community, but a community can also be a great
and community involvement at the heart of the station. asset to a railway station
This will involve the community taking a level of ownership The ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme ran by West Midlands
of the stations and passing this onto the future generations Trains demonstrates how community involvement can
to keep each station a valuable part of the local revive and enhance local stations and in turn, the station
community. Of course, Network Rail, West Midlands can become a key community asset. Most importantly,
Trains and the Local Government will also have an an integrated station shows that people care and that
important role in the legacy of the station and that is why they have something to be proud of, improving social
partnership working between the community and these inclusion and mental wellbeing whilst making the station
organisations is so important. a more pleasant place to be.
3
ABOUT BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILL STATION
Did you know? Key Facts
The station is one of the three main city centre stations in Birmingham, along with Birmingham New Street and
The Snow Hill area was Birmingham Moor Street and is situated to the north of the city centre on Colmore Row. The station is located
once owned by the Patton within the Colmore Business District, part of the wider Snow Hill area, which encompasses the professional
Family. services and commercial quarter of Birmingham and therefore serves a significant number of commuters.
Passenger volumes place Snow Hill as the third busiest station on the Chiltern Railways network, after London
Following the Patton family
Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street.
selling land to builders in
the 18th century, the Snow
Hill area including the site
the station sits on today
became Oppenheim’s
Glassworks.
By 1780 the site was no
longer used as a
glassworks and later
became a railway station.
Originally called
Birmingham Station, its
name was changed to
Great Charles Street
station, and then Livery Station Typology
Street Station, in which it
was finally renamed Snow Birmingham Snow Hill station is located on the Chiltern Main Line, North Warwickshire Line and the Birmingham to
Hill in 1858. Worcester via Kidderminster Line served by two operators – Chiltern Railways and West Midlands Railway.
The station has been Birmingham Snow Hill station is a ‘City Gateway’, providing access to the city centre of Birmingham and the
rebuilt several times in its Colmore Business District, and should therefore have a high-quality sense of arrival.
lifetime and the
Birmingham Snow Hill
There is a strong orientation towards commuting and meeting rail users’ expectations by providing frequent and
station we know today was
reopened in 1987. reliable services on attractive rolling stock, especially during peak periods. The station environment should provide
convenient and appropriate waiting facilities and complementary services.
4
ABOUT BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILL STATION - Station Lease Plan
Land within the blue line boundary is leased by Network Rail to West Midlands Railways. West Midlands Railways is required to meet lease
holder conditions on behalf of the landlord, Network Rail. This comprises of maintenance and enhancements to station areas, including the
station buildings, platforms, car park and facilities.
5
ABOUT BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILL STATION - Station Lease Plan
Land within the blue line boundary is leased by Network Rail to West Midlands Railways. West Midlands Railways is required to meet lease
holder conditions on behalf of the landlord, Network Rail. This comprises of maintenance and enhancements to station areas, including the
station buildings, platforms, car park and facilities.
5
ABOUT BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILL STATION - Service and Timetables
Birmingham Snow Hill Station is served by two operators – Chiltern Railways and West
Midlands Railway.
The station is part of what is referred to as the Snow Hill lines, which include; the Chiltern
Main Line between London Marylebone and Birmingham Snow Hill (some services continue
to Kidderminster), the Birmingham to Worcester Line via Kidderminster and on the North
Warwickshire Line which branches off the Chiltern Main Line at Tyseley and runs to
Stratford-upon-Avon.
Service details
• One Chiltern Railways service operates between Birmingham Snow Hill and
London Marylebone hourly via Dorridge. In addition, 3 early morning services are
provided via Birmingham Snow Hill starting at Kidderminster or Stourbridge
Junction)
• West Midlands Railway provide the local services between Birmingham Snow Hill
and the East and West of the city. In total, there are four trains per hour eastbound;
including, two to Whitlocks End (one continues to Stratford-upon-Avon) and two to
Dorridge (one continues to Stratford-upon-Avon) and six trains per hour to
Stourbridge Junction westbound (four continue to Kidderminster of which one then
carries on to Worcester).
Timetables
• https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/travel-information/timetables
• https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/before-you-travel/download-our-timetable
6ABOUT BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILL STATION - Station Layout and
Facilities
Station Facilities
Lifts to all platforms
Concourse Level
Waiting area on
each set of platforms
Refreshment kiosks
in main entrance hall
Accessible toilets
and baby changing
facilities
Bicycle storage
Ticket office
Automated ticket
machines
Taxi rank
Car park
Pay phone
Shop
ATM machine
7ABOUT BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILL STATION - Station Layout and
Facilities
Station Facilities
Lifts to all platforms Platform Level
Waiting area on
each set of platforms
Refreshment kiosks
in main entrance hall
Accessible toilets
and baby changing
facilities
Bicycle storage
Ticket office
Automated ticket
machines
Taxi rank
Car park
Pay phone
Shop
ATM machine
8ABOUT BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILL STATION - What do we know?
PASSENGERS
5,619,976 IN 2019/20
STATION FACILITIES
• Ticket office located in main
PUBLIC TRANSPORT, WALKING AND
CYCLING ACCESS
entrance available hall from 06:00-
STATION FOOTFALL 21:00 Monday to Thursday, 06:00- • Covered cycle parking is provided at the
• Footfall rose by 4.7% from 2018/19, 23:00 on Fridays, 07:00-23:00 on station, located between the entrance hall
• 167,371 interchanges were made Saturdays and 08:00-20:00 on and the multi-storey car park
at the station in 19/20 Sundays • Bus stop immediately outside the station on
• Ticket machines are located in the Livery Street serving Perry Common and
entrance hall Perry Barr
• Customer information screens and • St Chads Metro stop is located adjacent to
announcements are provided on all Snow Hill station, currently routing between
CRIME & SAFETY platforms and in the entrance hall Wolverhampton and Birmingham Library
• Of the crimes recorded by
British Transport Police, 40%
15 • The station is served by a coffee
kiosk and a shop, both located in
CRIMES
were violent crime and sexual RECORDED the entrance hall
offenses and 33% were public IN 2019/20 • Accessible toilets are provided on
order offenses. platforms 2 and 3, including baby
• The area around the station is considered changing facilities
to be relatively safe, with high levels of
surveillance due to its city centre location.
CAR PARKING AND ACCESSIBILITY
• 863 parking spaces are available to the north of
the station off Livery Street. These are chargeable
LOCAL ACTIVITIES unless except for Blue Badge holders
• Located within walking/cycling distance of the station are numerous bars and • Ramped access is provided via the main
restaurants, shopping facilities and leisure activities, including art galleries and pedestrian entrance to the station from Colmore
Birmingham Library. Row
• New residential development (Snow Hill Wharf) under construction, located next to • Lifts are provided to all platforms
the canal off Shadwell Street, connected to the station by local strategic cycle
routes along Lionel Street.
9The Headline Issues and Opportunities: THE
STATION
11The Headline Opportunities
THE STATION
Physical Improvements
The station area is steeped in history; however, the internal station environment is in need of
transformation to enhance the passenger experience. There is vast scope to ensure the internal
environment is attractive and creates a strong sense of place and arrival into Birmingham City Centre
commensurate with the station's role, the opportunities for development around and within it. Opportunities
also exist for improved access arrangements to the station from the west in particular. Outside the station,
there is significant congestion and conflict between pedestrians and vehicles at the stations main access
on Colmore Row. The proposed public realm improvement works (further information provided on page Unattractive and uninviting public realm at
14) will improve accessibility and provide improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians whilst reducing main entrance to station
traffic congestion and delay for all users on Colmore Row.
Operational improvements
The majority of users travel into and out of the station for work, then travelling by foot to and from local
offices. However, demand for car parking and congestion around the station remains high, with many
people who work in the city centre and business district, parking on the station car park and then
travelling by foot to offices or instead driving to office car parks via the city centre’s one-way system which
passes the station. However, the implementation of a clean air zone for the city centre by Birmingham
City Council and potential implementation of traffic ‘cells’ and associated removal of ‘through’ traffic will
make this less far less attractive. The car park above the station also offers a very significant longer term
development opportunity, which could support transformation of the station. Internal station environment is in need of
cleaning and redecoration to enhance the
Improving the cycle facilities and interchange with bus, Sprint and metro services would enhance access user experience
to the station and moreover coincide with the vision encompassed within the Snow Hill Masterplan.
Additionally, consideration is being given to reinstating platform 4 at Snow Hill Station, which would
improve operational performance, capacity and service resilience.
Integration
For the benefit of the community and its station, it is fundamental to enhance travel choice and connectivity
to local development and centers. Funding can be levied from developers in order to enhance existing
walking and cycling infrastructure, whilst travel planning engagement and information resources can
increase awareness of sustainable modes to rail users, businesses and local residents. In particular,
improvements to the public realm around the station, new developments in the area, Aston University and Accessibility and maintenance of access
Commonwealth Games preparation should consider improvements to wayfinding and interchange, routes is currently poor, improvements would
including with Sprint rapid transit networks, the metro and HS2 at Curzon Street, as well as providing benefit pedestrians
better information and increased opportunities for sustainable travel.
10The Headline Opportunities
THE SURROUNDING AREA
‘Last Mile’: Wider connectivity improvements
Gun Quarter Despite being a significant city gateway, pedestrian and cycle routes
A38 including to the station are unclear and discontinuous. The station sits to the
bordering Snow Hill north of the city centre and connections from wider areas such as
city centre Proposed Wharf
St Mary’s Place the Jewellery Quarter, Gun Quarter and Learning Quarter are
Ludgate Hill development
redevelopment severed by the A38, A440 and A4540 which route around the centre
Connectivity to residential
area and which are often congested with fast moving vehicles, possibly
National Cycle development
deterring some cyclists and pedestrians. As part of the Birmingham
Network 5 Transport Plan, improvements to the A38 are proposed that will
reduce car usage in the city centre, open up future uses in regard to
active travel and public transport infrastructure and also improving
connectivity as the A38 will no longer act a restrictive barrier
severing and constraining the city centre.
Trains to
Stourbridge Further improvements to local public realm and walking and cycling
connectivity could increase mode shift to more sustainable travel
modes, reducing locally generated traffic and improving the
environment for local residents, business and visitors. Increased
travel planning engagement with new and existing residents and
businesses can help people to realise the positive mode shift from
car travel.
National Cycle Route (NCN) 5 can
be found to the west of the
station/city centre through
Centenary Square whilst NCN 535
can be found along the canal north
of the station ending at Old Snow
Hill and then joining a local strategic
cycle route. Developments around
the station including public realm
Trains to improvements should seek to
Solihull improve connections between the
station with these two NCN routes
1 mile radius as well as local strategic cycle
routes.
11The Headline Opportunities
THE SURROUNDING AREA
Investment in surrounding land use activities
The station is located to the north of the city centre in the Snow
Hill District, which encompasses a mix modern buildings
predominantly around Colmore Row and the Expanded Office
Core area, with distinctive historic buildings and areas, including
the Historic Colmore, which is now part of the Colmore Business
District, Ludgate Hill which includes many industrial factories and
buildings, as well as St Mary’s Place, which includes historic
buildings such as the Children’s Hospital and the Magistrates
Court.
Proposals to introduce more office space around Snow Hill
station including the redevelopment of the station to replace the
multi-story car park with office space, development of Ludgate
Hill Enterprise Zone including the recent proposal to build
residential properties on the existing Ludgate Hill Car Park site,
as well as the departure of institutions such as the Children’s
Hospital, the Victoria Law Courts and the Central Police Station
along Steelhouse Lane in the St Mary’s Place area, presents a
number of major opportunities for mixed-use development within
the area. These opportunities include both new builds and the
reuse of existing historic buildings, focussing on a mix of
residential and commercial accommodation, as well as leisure
uses.
Providing clearer links to these key development areas and also
links through use of historic photos, improved wayfinding, cycling
routes and public realm at the station, would help to link the key
city and key surrounding areas such as the through them to
wider areas such as the Learning Quarter, Jewellery Quarter and
Gun Quarter with the station itself.
12OPPORTUNITY PLAN Reinstate Platform 4 to Improvements to
increase operational concourse including
performance, capacity and catering offer
Provide third service resilience
Renovation of
access on
the internal
St Chad’s
station
Queensway
environment to
to increase
complement
accessibility
the Public
and
Realm
interchange
scheme,
between
enhancing
station and
sense of place
metro
and creating a
fantastic
gateway to the
city
Improve interchange
connections with
buses, metro and
rapid transit/SPRINT
Renew tactile paving
where worn along
platform edges
Improve
Improvements to Improve and modify gateline access from
vertical circulation to improve movements Livery
through station at peak hours Street.
13Understanding the
POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH
Proposed Public Realm Improvements New Developments around Snow Hill
Significant issues have been identified with the existing streets
and public realm around Snow Hill station, including traffic Significant commercial development is being undertaken around
congestion on Colmore Row and poor connectivity currently. Snow Hill, including recently completed Three Snowhill, which is
the largest speculative office development outside of London.
Colmore Business Improvement District and Birmingham City Snow Hill Wharf is a major residential development located in
Council are working together to deliver the Snow Hill Public the historic Gun Quarter that will provide over 400 new homes.
Realm programme. The programme includes a number of The first stages of the regeneration project is under construction
projects to improve public transport interchange and currently and will be completed in early 2021.
connectivity, enhance the public realm and prioritise pedestrian
movement, reallocate the unused on-street parking and The city is growing significantly. It will therefore be important to
encourage on-street activities prioritise providing sustainable travel to and from the station.
With HS2 being built between London and Birmingham, major
The public realm programme will improve the appearance of the companies moving major offices and headquarters to
station and therefore improve the sense of arrival to visitors. A Birmingham and the city being the centre of the 2022
graphic representation of the proposed scheme is presented Commonwealth Games with events held in surrounding areas,
below. more people will visit Birmingham and it will be important to build
on the momentum of these projects and events to establish
Snow Hill station as a strong gateway and maximise rail
patronage by visitors to the city, improving visitor experience and
encouraging growth of tourism.
The station itself is continuing to see a growth in passenger
numbers, rising by 4.7% between 2018/19 and 2019/20. The
subsequent increase in footfall around the station further makes
the case for improving the station environment and facilities,
including completion of the Snow Hill Public Realm and internal
upgrades.
14DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Large Scale Options
• High quality and sustainable ‘last mile’ connections supported by new/ improved infrastructure
• Better integration for walking and cycling within the city centre and to key assets/destinations and surrounding residential areas
• Renovation of the internal station environment to complement the Public Realm scheme, enhancing sense of place and creating a fantastic
gateway to the city
• Build on the momentum of the Commonwealth Games, HS2 and companies moving headquarters/main offices to Birmingham to establish
Snow Hill station as a strong gateway and maximise rail patronage by visitors to the city, improving visitor experience
• Provide third access from St Chad’s Queensway to increase accessibility and interchange between heavy rail and metro
• Reinstate Platform 4 to improve operational performance, capacity and service resilience
• Redevelopment of station and replacement of multi-storey car park with large office buildings
• Complete the Snow Hill Public Realm scheme to provide high quality public realm and connectivity to and from the station
Medium Scale Options
• Installation of improved wayfinding to key assets/destinations. This may link with improvements provided as part of the Public
Realm scheme
• Improve environment around Second Access on Lionel Street under railway archway- including better lighting, painting and
removal of pigeon mess
• Improve access from Livery Street, used by pedestrians accessing the station and car park from the Business District
(Barwick Street/Edmund Street) – including better/even surfacing
• New pedestrian and cycle connectivity to Learning Quarter/Universities
• Improve cycle connectivity onto canal/National Cycle Networks
• Improve interchange connections with buses, metro and rapid transit/SPRINT
Small Scale Options and Quick Wins
• General refresh and clean of the station facilities
• Fill currently blank white spaces on the internal subway and concourse walls with information and photos about the history of the local area
and station or community engagement
• Promotion of ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme
• Tackle water leakage around station including the car park
• Modify gateline to improve movements through station at peak hours
• Review of car park season ticket prices to deter people using private car (useful in short term until station redevelopment scheme)
• Renewal of tactile paving on platform edge where required
• Promote cycle routes to the station through cycling events (eg. Dr Bike), seizing opportunity presented by Covid-19, and engage with developers at new
housing developments as well as local cycling groups.
• Improve surveillance facilities to increase sense of safety
• Create additional cycle parking spaces at the station that is secure and attractive to use
17OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT
The Stations as Places Prospectus should act as a means of providing an evidence base which can attract funding
opportunities and implement quick-win initiatives and measures. To achieve this, continuous stakeholder involvement and
collaboration is crucial to develop relationships within the communities that Snow Hill station serves.
Options for Delivery
Third Party Funding Section 106 Funding External Funding
• Birmingham City Council Section 106 Funding can be secured when a • Railway Heritage Trust
• Chiltern Railways third-party development relates to the station (in • National Stations
• West Midlands Trains planning terms). Improvements
• Network Rail Programme (NSIP)
• Major Scheme (DfT) • Customer and
• Midlands Connect Communities
• Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP Improvement Fund
(CCIF).
Easy Wins
Snow Hill Public Realm Programme: Cycle Rail: The Department for Transport (DfT) Community and
Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local has awarded the train operators £371,000 of Volunteering resources:
Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) are funding through their Cycle Rail programme for Investment of time from
providing around £3 million as part of initiatives including providing cycle parking spaces community and enterprise
improvement works to the public realm in the and improving facilities. The investment will also groups including the ‘Adopt
vicinity of Snow Hill station to reduce go towards supporting the ‘Stations as Places’ a Station’ scheme, and the
congestion and improve pedestrian access. station travel planning programme. charity sector.
18Action Plan
Making the station a better place and achieving mode shift
The action plan and targets provide a focus for the Stations as Places prospectus, as a way of measuring whether future schemes have a
positive impact on sustainable travel.
The targets below enable us to review the success of this opportunity prospectus and if the measures taken have resulted in improved
sustainable access to the station, continued and enhanced community involvement and a complement to other capital improvements, not
least the station forecourt improvement scheme.
Action Responsibility Timescale
Targets
Establish ‘Adopt a Station’ Scheme • West Midlands Railway Short
Year 0-1: Deliver ‘quick win’ station
Deliver ‘quick win’ customer improvements
environment improvements at the
station – platform tactile paving
• West Midlands Railway
Short to Years 0-3: Deliver Public Realm
refresh, repaint, improved Medium Improvement Scheme
surveillance, tackle water leakage,
etc.
• West Midlands Railway
Years 0-4: Increase passenger numbers
Complete the Snow Hill Public Realm
scheme to provide high quality public • Network Rail by capturing a rail market from housing,
Medium
realm and connectivity to and from the • Birmingham City Council employment and retail growth (post
station
• Developers Covid-19 recovery) including increase in
active and sustainable forms of travel
• West Midlands Railway
Deliver high quality walking, cycling, • Network Rail Medium to Year 0-5: Make Snow Hill station a
and e-scooters improvements to/
• Birmingham City Council Long
from the station fundamental part of city centre and
• Developers
community that has excellent integration
between other transport modes and a
• West Midlands Railway key community hub for activities other
In the process of redevelopment of
station and improved integration • Network Rail Long than making a journey
between transport modes • Birmingham City Council
19WHO TO CONTACT and
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Railways bring people together and there is a powerful historic sense of pride in the railways in the UK. Stations
began life as beacons of hope and revival for local communities and when stations are places of welcome, happier
and more passengers ensue.
This prospectus presents information on the challenges and opportunities at Birmingham Snow Hill Station as expressed by different members of
the local community. This evidence has been used to inform a set of objectives and a list of actions defined during the course of the study which
will help to prioritise future investment at the station and within the local area. We hope you enjoyed the journey.
The Stations as Places initiative is designed be open to all. We really want to
engage with organisations of different shapes and sizes. We’d love to hear from
developers and their consultant teams about how we can work more closely with
you to connect with your development schemes, especially if you are needing
people to take the train to ease pressure of the road network and make your
development proposals work effectively. But we’d also love to hear from
shopkeepers and other local businesses, from social enterprises and residents’
groups, and from organisations supporting disabled people and others needing
accessibility support. So how to get involved?
You can email sap@wmre.org.uk and one of the team
will get back to you!
Contact us if you would like to:
• Give us feedback about this Prospectus
• Flag up an opportunity with your proposed development
• Talk to us about how your organisation can get involved
You can also follow progress on Stations as
Places at www.wmre.org.uk/stationsalliance
20You can also read
