The Government has announced that the HS2 project has been delayed beyond the intended opening date of 2033
An aerial view of the HS2 Curzon Street rail station in Birmingham
The opening of HS2 will be delayed beyond the target date of 2033, the Government has confirmed.
HS2 is an important component of Knighthead’s plan to build a Sports Quarter in east Birmingham.
Birmingham City’s owners want to move into their new home by 2030 and were recently boosted by the Government’s pledge to fund the all-important tram-line from Curzon Street, where HS2 will be stationed in the city, to the site.
But the Sports Quarter will have to wait for HS2. The new rail service will now not be ready to serve the people of Birmingham and indeed the Sports Quarter by 2033.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “It gives me no pleasure to deliver news like this. Billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money has been wasted by constant scope changes, ineffective contracts and bad management.”
What does this mean for Blues and the Sports Quarter?
While the HS2 delay could have an impact on the type of events Knighthead stage at Blues’ new home in the first few years, it shouldn’t affect anything to do with the building of the new stadium and the Sports Quarter.
The perk of HS2 is that it will drastically cut travel time between London and Birmingham which, insiders believe, will make the Sports Quarter more easily accessible to those who live in London than some parts of the capital itself.
They will be able to reach Birmingham from London in 49 minutes and, when the tram-line is in place, they will only be a short hop from the Sports Quarter.
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That makes the Sports Quarter the ideal spot for large-scale events, be it sporting or non-sporting.
HS2 will ensure the Sports Quarter isn’t just for the people of Birmingham and that will turn it into the money-making machine that Knighthead intend for it to be.
When Tom Wagner addressed the media at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park recently, he gave a nod to HS2 and its importance in the Sports Quarter project.
He said: “I would say that were it not for the bold move to approve HS2, this project would not likely have come together. Kudos to all those who supported that project.”
The key thing is that HS2 is happening, even though the Government can’t put a date on it, and everything transport-related has been approved.
Wagner and his Knighthead cohorts will hope that the HS2 delay is a short one to ensure the Sports Quarter is properly served sooner rather than later.
Are you frustrated by the HS2 delay? Have your say HERE