HS2 Ltd has confirmed that Taylor Woodrow Infrastructure Ltd and Aureos Rail Ltd, operating as the TWA Joint Venture, have been awarded a contract worth around £856m to deliver the high‑speed railway’s Network Integrated Control Centre (NICC) and Rolling Stock Depot at Washwood Heath in Birmingham.
The award marks a major milestone for HS2 and will see the transformation of a 70‑hectare brownfield site, formerly home to the LDV and Metro‑Cammell works, into a strategic rail operations, maintenance and logistics hub, supporting more than 1,000 long‑term jobs.
A critical operational hub for HS2
The new depot will occupy around 30 hectares of the site and will include a state‑of‑the‑art Rolling Stock Maintenance Building, a Carriage Wash, an Automatic Vehicle Inspection Building, extensive sidings for overnight stabling, and a test track.
Alongside the depot, HS2 will also deliver the Network Integrated Control Centre, where operational teams will manage train dispatch, communicate with drivers and oversee the day‑to‑day running of services across the high‑speed network. Separate buildings will accommodate offices and facilities for drivers and cleaning staff.
The remaining land will be released for commercial development, alongside the creation of new green spaces and wildlife habitats, supporting wider regeneration ambitions for the area.
Jobs, skills and regeneration
Washwood Heath is ranked among the most deprived areas in the UK, with around 77% of households experiencing deprivation in at least one dimension, according to the 2021 Census. The project is expected to deliver around 1,000 permanent, highly skilled jobs, in addition to approximately 500 temporary construction roles.
The contract award also underlines the progress being made as HS2 undergoes a comprehensive programme reset, aimed at ensuring delivery as efficiently as possible and at the lowest reasonable cost. HS2 Ltd’s readiness to proceed was assessed by CEO Mark Wild and an independent review panel, reflecting lessons learned from previous major programmes including Crossrail.
Ministerial and industry reaction
Lord Hendy, Rail Minister said:
“Washwood Heath and the wider HS2 programme will create thousands of jobs across the West Midlands - from the construction teams transforming this former industrial site, to the skilled workforce who will operate this state-of-the-art facility for decades to come. Together, they will help deliver faster, more reliable rail journeys across the UK.
“HS2 continues to reach major milestones as we work to get the project back on track and unlock its full potential to drive economic growth, jobs, and homes across the country.”
A recent study has shown that HS2 is already driving growth across the region, with a £10bn economic uplift expected around the project’s two major stations and the Washwood Heath depot over the next decade.
Steve Cox, HS2 Ltd’s Area Director said:
“Once complete, HS2 will transform journeys between Britain’s two largest cities, freeing up space on the existing West Coast Main Line for more freight and local services.
“The new depot and control centre at Washwood Heath will be at the heart of our day-to-day operation and play a crucial role in the testing and commissioning of the railway.
“Taylor Woodrow and Aureos have a great track record delivering complex infrastructure projects and I look forward to working with them over the coming years.”
Strong delivery pedigree
The TWA JV will work closely with HS2 Ltd and the future operator to finalise requirements, complete detailed design, and then build, test and commission the facility. The partners have delivered major rail schemes across the UK and Europe, including King’s Cross, Whitechapel, the Elizabeth Line depot, and Old Oak Common on HS2. Together, they employ more than 3,000 people in the UK.
Phil Skegg, Managing Director of Taylor Woodrow said:
“We are extremely proud to have been selected to deliver the Washwood Heath Depot and NICC for HS2. This is a landmark project of national importance and a clear endorsement of Taylor Woodrow’s expertise in delivering complex, safety critical rail and infrastructure schemes.
“We look forward to working closely with HS2 Ltd and our supply chain partners to create a world class depot that will play a vital role in the operation of Britain’s new high speed railway, while leaving a positive and lasting legacy for skills, employment and the local community.”
Darren James, Chief Executive Officer of Aureos, said:
“We are thoroughly pleased to be awarded the Washwood Heath contract.
“This project is the most complex and critical part of the HS2 infrastructure and Aureos brings deep rail systems and digital engineering capability to deliver a depot and NICC designed around data, automation and whole life asset performance from the outset.
“We are looking forward to demonstrating exemplar delivery of the contract by working closely with HS2, our JV partner, the supply chain and all other stakeholders.”
Enabling works already well advanced
HS2’s West Midlands construction partner Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) has already completed extensive enabling works, including site clearance, ground remediation and the completion of a 750‑metre retained cutting connecting to the Bromford Tunnel. Excavation of the 3.5‑mile tunnel was completed last year, with teams now progressing internal concrete works and cross passages.
Elsewhere, BBV continues work on a series of viaducts carrying HS2 services into Curzon Street station, while Mark Wild leads the next phase of HS2’s programme reset.
Image credits: HS2
