Member Article

Foundations laid for major Birmingham shopping development

The foundations have been laid for the transformation of Birmingham New Street station and the Pallasades shopping centre.

John Lewis MD, Andy Street, was joined by David Higgins, chief executive of Network Rail and Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council were on site to see the initial steps.

The new 250,000 sq ft John Lewis department store will anchor an upgraded Pallasades shopping centre, in a drive to improve the city’s strong retail reputation.

Work to redevelop the area has been ongoing since last year, and with the foundations for the centre now laid, the John Lewis store will begin to talk shape over the coming months.

David Higgins, chief executive, Network Rail said: “The exciting changes we are delivering at New Street vividly show how investment in transport infrastructure can benefit cities and communities by triggering regeneration, new jobs and economic growth.

“With a new John Lewis and Pallasades coming in 2014, and a state of the art station complete in 2015, Birmingham has a lot to look forward to.”

Sir Albert Bore, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “A true feat of engineering is taking place on the New Street site to transform the station, whilst tens of thousands of people continue to travel in and out of our city - uninterrupted - every day.

“In the coming months, residents and visitors will start to see the station and the John Lewis store take shape.

“We welcome the retail offer it will bring to the city, boosting the local economy by more than £25m each year along with the opportunity for 650 local people to take up new jobs in the store.”

Andy Street, Managing Director, John Lewis said: “We are very pleased to be playing a part in the regeneration of Birmingham city centre and believe this will cement the city’s status as a key UK retail destination.

“With construction of John Lewis Birmingham now underway, we are looking forward to fulfilling our long term ambition of bringing our unique retail and employment offer to the city.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .