21.08.18
Atkins-led consortium to lead the way on Sheffield HS2 station masterplan
Sheffield City Council has chosen Atkins to lead a consortium of architects and engineers to develop a new masterplan to transform Sheffield Midland Railway Station in its preparation for the arrival of HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, will lead the team to provide a range of services ensuring the station will be fit to handle HS2 passengers and trains passing through the station— as well as unlocking the development potential of the surrounding area over the next 20 years.
Atkins will work in partnership with companies Cushman & Wakefield, Lambert Smith Hampton, Merrett Houmøller Architects, and Quatro PR.
As part of the developments Sheffield CC will look to make, the consortium will also aim to enhance passenger experience in and around the station, and improve surrounding connectivity to the station for rail, tram, and bus users as well as cyclists and pedestrians.
Cllr Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business and investment at the council, said the station is “absolutely central” to council’s city centre vision to deliver new jobs, businesses and opportunities to the region.
“It must be delivered in tandem with improving connectivity to the station and in keeping with our ambitions for a green and sustainable city that works for everybody in Sheffield,” he added. “I look forward to seeing the plans take shape to deliver thousands of new jobs for our economy.”
Journey times from Sheffield to London will be reduced by 40 minutes when HS2 services are due to begin in 2033— but the development of the station in preparation for the high-speed rail is expected to bring immediate benefits to the city.
The overall aims of the commission is to develop a masterplan that will establish the blueprint for a high-quality and efficient passenger-interchange, maximise economic, social, and environmental benefits in and around the station, and shape a strategy for deliver to maximise short, medium, and long-term benefits.
Atkins project director Mike Gardner said: “Our masterplan will help ensure that by the time HS2 arrives in Sheffield, the station will be a focal point for the city and offer a first-class experience for passengers.
“Crucially, we’re also planning beyond the station to ensure that adjacent commercial and residential developments are a catalyst for delivering the city’s wider growth and regeneration ambitions.”
The consortium has been appointed by a partnership comprising Sheffield City Council, Sheffield City Region, London and Continental Railways, Department for Transport, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Transport for the North, Network Rail, HS2 Ltd and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive.
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Image credit: Sheffield City Council