Grand opening for Grand Central

Birmingham’s Grand Central shopping complex, which forms an integral part of the £750M New Street Station redevelopment, opens its doors this week.

The complex, which sits above the station’s new concourse level, includes one of the UK’s largest John Lewis department stores.

Working on behalf of main contractor Mace, Severfleld erected 2,850t of structural steelwork for the four-storey shopping complex project.

Boasting an iconic new atrium over a huge passenger concourse – five times the size of London Euston’s – the station opened its doors to the public on Sunday 20 September.

With brighter, de-cluttered platforms, improved entrances, a range of new facilities and an abundance of natural light over the new concourse, Birmingham New Street, one of Britain’s busiest inter-change stations, is now a retail destination in its own right.

Chief Executive of Network Rail Mark Carne said: “Birmingham New Street sits right at the heart of our rail network and the transformation which has taken place here is nothing short of stunning. The station is now bigger, brighter and better able to meet the needs of the growing number of people who use it each day.

“As Britain’s second city, Birmingham deserves a station of this calibre and, along with Grand Central, the investment we have made will help support the local economy and regenerate large parts of city centre.

Andy Street, Managing Director of John Lewis and chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The completion of New Street and the opening of Grand Central, including the new John Lewis couldn’t come at a better time for Birmingham with employment, GDP, foreign investment, exports and visitor numbers all on the up in the area.

“One of the negatives of the previous station – aside from the appalling first impression it gave to millions of visitors to our city, was that New Street effectively divided the city centre.