Transport Tycoon Forums

Press Release wrote: Passengers and the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands were shown visionary new designs for New Street station today.

The striking concept designs, clad in shimmering, reflective metal, will create a bold, modern gateway to the city for the millions of people using the station
each year.

The iconic design is the work of the renowned Foreign Office Architects. They beat dozens of rivals, including many of the world’s top practices, to win an international competition and land the prestigious project.

Speaking at the launch event, Cllr Mike Whitby, chairman of the New Street Gateway Funders’ Board, said: “The Birmingham Gateway, which will support over 52m passengers a year, demands a world class architectural vision to embody the rebirth of New Street station.

“With the world looking on, this breathtaking design firmly places Birmingham on the international map for very high quality, daring design.

“Alejandro Zaera-Polo’s bold architecture symbolises Birmingham’s arrival over the last few years as a globally relevant city looking to its future, as a connected international hub, to the advantage of citizen and investor alike.

“I would like to thank Foreign Office Architects and the selection panel for their hard work. The Gateway project will enrich the continuing regeneration of Birmingham, and enhance our reputation as a truly world class city.”

RNS Number : 3031Z
Warner Estate Holdings PLC
17 July 2008


Warner Estate Holdings PLC

Pallasades Shopping Centre, Birmingham
Birmingham City Council progressing Gateway proposals


Warner Estate Holdings PLC ('Warner Estate') received notification on 16 July
2008 from Birmingham City Council of the making of the Birmingham City Council
(New Street Station City Centre) Compulsory Purchase Order 2008. The Order
includes the
Pallasades Shopping Centre which is owned by Agora Max Limited, a 50/50 joint
venture with Bank of Scotland. Warner Estate manages the asset on behalf of
Agora Max.

The Order follows the granting of Outline Planning Permission in July 2007 for
the reconfiguration of New Street Station, the Pallasades Shopping Centre and
land to the south (the 'Gateway' scheme). Network Rail are managing the
promotion of the
scheme on behalf of a number of public sector bodies including Network Rail,
Birmingham City Council and Advantage West Midlands ('the Gateway Consortium').
The City Council is proposing to use its compulsory purchase powers to ensure
that property
interests needed for Gateway to be completed can be acquired.

Agora Max and Warner Estate support, in principle, the creation of a
high-quality retail offer above New Street Station, but remain concerned that
the scheme currently being promoted by the Gateway Consortium is not the most
appropriate scheme for the
City or for the Pallasades Shopping Centre and that there are a number of
important issues which remain unresolved and require further work. Warner
Estate continues to liaise with Birmingham City Council and other members of the
Gateway Consortium.

Any objection to the Order must be made by Agora Max and Warner Estate before 29
August 2008. If there are any objections from owners of interests included in
the CPO, a public inquiry will be held in approximately six to eight months time
and
chaired by an inspector. The Secretary of State will consider the inspector's
report and is likely to announce a decision approximately six months later. If
confirmed, the Order may be implemented within three years i.e. the property
interests
acquired or possession taken within three years of confirmation. Compensation
under the Order is triggered by the acquisition of property interests or by
entry on to the land, not the making or confirmation of the Order.

If the Order is confirmed and implemented, Agora Max will receive compensation
for the interest that is acquired from it. The general principle of compensation
is 'equivalence', i.e. to place parties in the financial position that they
would have been
in had their interest not been acquired under the Compulsory Purchase Order.


- ends -
Date: 17 July 2008

Warner Estate Holdings PLC City Profile
Philip Warner, Chairman Simon Courtenay
Michael Stevens, Property Director Tel: 020-7448-3244
Peter Collins, Finance Director
Tel: 020-7907-5100
Web: www.warnerestate.co.uk


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

MSCBBGDRXGBGGIR

RNS Number : 3031Z
Warner Estate Holdings PLC
17 July 2008


Warner Estate Holdings PLC

Pallasades Shopping Centre, Birmingham
Birmingham City Council progressing Gateway proposals


Warner Estate Holdings PLC ('Warner Estate') received notification on 16 July
2008 from Birmingham City Council of the making of the Birmingham City Council
(New Street Station City Centre) Compulsory Purchase Order 2008. The Order
includes the
Pallasades Shopping Centre which is owned by Agora Max Limited, a 50/50 joint
venture with Bank of Scotland. Warner Estate manages the asset on behalf of
Agora Max.

JamieLei wrote:CPO is a Compulsory Purchase Order. It was mentioned in the text, although it's not obvious what it means

According to the press release, it will cost £398 million, but return £2.3 billion in economic benefits. It will be finished in 6 years from now, in 2014 although looking at UK rail projects, it's bound to overrun and overspend... - the exception was St Pancras which was completed under-budget.

Hyronymus wrote:And CPO's are?

JamieLei wrote:If not, it's easy enough to extend the platforms. The monstrosity that is platform 4c (for the half-hourly Liverpool service) pretty much extended the platform by an extra 2 car lengths.

JamieLei wrote:I think - but check with Dave - that New Street platforms might just be big enough to contain the 12-car Pendos.

If not, it's easy enough to extend the platforms. The monstrosity that is platform 4c (for the half-hourly Liverpool service) pretty much extended the platform by an extra 2 car lengths.

Plus there might be increased demand for 12-car services of other types. Although trains like the Class 350 Desiro are only about 20m long, and thus can fit into a 10-car platform.

andel wrote:No it's not - there are only a couple of platforms that could accomodate 11-car Class 390s - if I recall correctly that is 1, 2 and 11.

There is very limited space at new street....

andel wrote:

JamieLei wrote:If not, it's easy enough to extend the platforms. The monstrosity that is platform 4c (for the half-hourly Liverpool service) pretty much extended the platform by an extra 2 car lengths.

No it's not - there are only a couple of platforms that could accomodate 11-car Class 390s - if I recall correctly that is 1, 2 and 11.

There is very limited space at new street....

Dave Worley wrote: Here... Wolverhampton is going to struggle with 11-car Pendolinos, as are Warrington, Wigan and Oxenholme.

Dave Worley wrote: Crewe and Preston are currently long enough - Crewe being really long and Preston - for some reason - having a really long island platform for 3 and 4.