MOVES have finally begun to make a start on the long-awaited rebuilding of Digbeth Coach Station at the heart of Birmingham's Irish Quarter.
National Express has submitted a planning application to Birmingham City Council to temporarily relocate operations to what is currently a car park.
The first step towards the £7m rebuilding programme would see the coach station relocate to the temporary site in Oxford Street directly opposite the existing coach station.
If planning permission is granted, the site previously part of the Volkswagen garage/showroom room will be known as Birmingham coach station.
A short term lease would be taken on site with the intention of moving back onto the main site by the middle of 2008.
Marc Sangster, director of strategy at National Express said: “The planning application marks the start of an exciting time for National Express in Birmingham. We are delighted to have found a site which has a great location and will provide excellent temporary facilities, better than that currently offered at the existing site. The move to a temporary site will help to confirm our intentions to build a new world class coach station that the people of Birmingham can be proud of."
A copy of the planning application for the temporary coach station is available for inspection at the city council's office at AlphaTower.
MAKE architects have been appointed to design the new coach station for Birmingham to replace the existing 30-year old facility.
The redevelopment forms a key part of the regeneration of the Irish Quarter and National Express say it will transform the experience of coach travel to and from Birmingham.
Mr Sangster added: “We will submit an outline planning application for Digbeth Coach Station to BCC in early 2006. It is our intention that the redevelopment of Digbeth coach station will be complete and re-opened by mid-2008.”