We Live Just Yards From HS2 Construction — Here’s What We Really Think

Several hundred meters away from one of the nation's largest HS2 constructing, locals are adjusting to daily life alongside looming construction cranes and continuous work-related vehicle movements.

The construction of a £570 million terminus at Birmingham Curzon Street has led to a skeleton of steel and concrete dominating the skyline over the wall of their communal green.

Northumberland Street is on the frontline of the colossal mainline terminus and track construction, a key hub of the divisive and astronomically expensive HS2 project.

Traffic noise, closed-off streets, and continuous construction work have become commonplace as daily occurrences intensify. This escalation is set against a backdrop where this year is anticipated to see significant progress, particularly with the formation of the new seven-level platform station structure beginning to take form.

Residents who spoke to the vtrik I was taken aback by how quickly the steel framework for the backdrop was erected, yet I didn’t participate in the mockery directed towards the infrastructure project, which faced significant delays and cost overruns.

'Glad my home is secure'

Zacharias Nur, who is 30 years old, feels relief as initial suggestions that his longtime residence of 15 years might be impacted by the new route have not come true.

'It’s an enormous structure that seems to have appeared suddenly,' he remarks.

'The noise might rouse the children during the morning hours; however, considering the entire initiative, it will bring the city nearer to us all and drive up property values, proving advantageous for the locals.'

‘From our perspective, we’ve been here 15 years and it was quiet to begin with but there’s been a lot more life and activity as the university has been rebuilt. As far as the negatives go, it’s just the noise and parking, with the builders using residential areas.’

The IT consultant remembered a scary moment when it seemed like HS2 — which currently ends in the West Midlands since the northern sections were canceled — might claim the property.

"When the entire project first began, they sent us a letter stating that they could potentially tear down all of our houses," he explains.

'I was somewhat cautious, and I'm glad it didn't occur because I grew up here, and my children were also raised here.'

‘It’s part of the background’

Rizvi Tanvir, 20, is one of the newest residents on the small estate, having arrived from Bangladesh little more than a week ago to study law at Aston.

'It’s simply part of the backdrop,' he remarks about the construction site.

'The area is quite nice; occasionally, there might be litter near the balcony and garbage bags scattered about, however, it remains quiet.'

People living close to a segment of the steel decking, which will ultimately be part of a 150-meter long viaduct designed for ferrying commuters into and out of the city via high-speed trains, are experiencing disruptions due to the construction activities.

Ramya Yessen, aged 25, who works as a customer service advisor, mentions: "It can be quite noisy at times and it definitely disturbs our sleep during the nights."

'Once, with the window open, it sounded as though a plane or a helicopter was landing. The noise has persisted all day.'

Ramya has successfully maintained her remote work from home at the estate, despite the rapid pace of development that has startled some of the inhabitants.

‘The project has been going on since I was in secondary school but we don’t get a lot of information about what they’re doing,’ she says.

'Suddenly, one day when we stopped, we spotted it.'

‘Hopefully the project can bring some good.’

Just a short stroll away from the street, Muhin Hussain runs his e-commerce venture out of a warehouse near one of the entrance points to the facility.

Muhin, the group director of Loft 25 EU, began as an apprentice at the company and has climbed the ranks over time. He thinks that the railway connection will ultimately assist in spreading Birmingham’s dedication and hard work across the United Kingdom.

'It hasn’t caused too much trouble,' he states.

'There are vans arriving at times that conflict with our schedule for having trucks stockpile inventory into our warehouse; however, that is the sole issue.'

‘City of grind’

Muhin gazes past the flow of action at the street’s edge, with one of the supports for the viaduct standing out prominently against the horizon.

‘I always look at the big picture,’ he says.

'The overarching idea is improving communication among cities, with direct personal interactions proving more beneficial than virtual meetings.'

‘The first thing an army does in war when it goes to a new territory is establishing communication, and trains, planes and trams strengthen a city, strengthen its communications.

'We can handle the noise since it will ultimately benefit the city.'

Muhin, who leads a team of approximately 50 individuals spanning the UK and Europe, thinks that the city known for its multitude of crafts will persevere through the disruptions caused by HS2.

'Birmingham is a city with a gritty vibe,' he remarks.

‘It has to, because unlike other cities there’s nothing to fall back on, and I say that as someone who works throughout London and Europe.

‘The city has the most entrepreneurs and the most start-ups in the West Midlands, even though there’s no safety net here.

'A fresh communication channel will disseminate this knowledge and impart the city’s work ethos to the remainder of the nation.'

‘Pointless waste of money’

Joanna Moriarty, from the White Tower pub located at the intersection of a congested roundabout nearer to the downtown side of the area, expressed doubt over having a prominent HS2 station close by.

“It hasn’t truly affected us; there hasn’t been additional traffic since it’s usually chaotic around here,” she comments about the work.

'I believe HS2 is an unnecessary expenditure of funds. Since I travel by car all the time and never use trains, this project won't affect me.'

'I don't believe it will enhance the neighborhood in any way.'

‘If they don’t improve the parking at the station for people who leave their cars as they take the train to London it will be worse than it already is around here. It’s absolutely horrendous with the workers and the university, as people confuse Nechells as a car park.’

The licensee, who has been at the White Tower for 37 years, also told vtrikthat she has had no communication from HS2 other than routine notifications of nearby works.

The updated section from Birmingham to London might have a price tag exceeding £65 billion, according to the departing chairperson of the construction firm behind it.

Sir Jonathan Thompson from HS2 Ltd has projected an increase due to the 'remarkable' escalation in expenses for construction materials such as concrete and steel, pushing his estimation significantly higher than the government’s maximum forecast of £56.6 billion.

Overspending, coupled with delays and modifications to post-Covid travel regulations, was pointed out by Rishi Sunak. When he removed the northern section in October 2023, making the West Midlands the end of the line.

When will the first trains run?

An internal fit-out of the first brand new intercity terminus station built in Britain since the 19th Century is due to start towards the end of the year and finish at the end of 2028.

Operational testing and commissioning will run from summer 2026 to autumn 2028, according to HS2.

However, the date when the first 225mph trains will begin ferrying passengers between Birmingham Curzon Street (pictured, artist’s design) and London is a moot point.

The timeframe was set somewhere between 2029 and 2033, yet due to a project plagued by delays and budget overruns, this timeline cannot be guaranteed.

In April, HS2 CEO Mark Wild couldn't pledge to stick with this timeline, stating that a 'reset' of the program was necessary.

Designed to be the United Kingdom's inaugural new intercity terminal since the 1800s, Curzon Street will provide trips taking just 49 minutes between these urban centers.

The proposed station will feature an elegant curved roof, two plazas, and a walkway, designed with the aim of achieving net-zero operations.

The exterior of the building is anticipated to be completed this year, with the primary construction stage of the Curzon Street project generating over 1,000 employment opportunities.

Once up and running, the station district, with regenerated areas and new public spaces, will be a catalyst for an ‘unparallelled’ boom in Birmingham’s fortunes, according to the city council.

‘It won’t be in my lifetime’

However, the first trains are not due to run at Curzon Street until between 2029 and 2033, and even that estimate is clouded in uncertainty.

The timescale was not lost on Oaron Grossett, 69, a retired taxman paying little regard to the steel deck over the wall at Northumberland Road.

‘I don’t really take any notice,’ he says.

‘Fortunately I’m too old to worry, such things won’t happen in my lifetime.

‘Politicians like to make big promises but there’s no certainty in life or death. If it happens it happens.’

Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact josh.layton@vtrik.co.uk

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