PRIVACY
Enterprise

West Midlands business review of 2023 - part four: HS2 downsized, Mailbox on sale and new future for Birmingham Wheels

Our West Midlands Review of the Year draws to a close with the final three months of 2023, featuring the controversial decision to scrap part of HS2, Birmingham's Mailbox complex going on sale and a new chapter for a famous racing park

Clockwise from top left: HS2's northern leg scrapped, Birmingham's Mailbox goes on sale, new future outlined for Wheels racing track and a temporary stop is proposed for the tram network

Part four of our review of 2023 showcases the final three months of the year and kicks off with the hugely controversial news that the northern leg of high-speed rail project HS2 was sensationally cancelled.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chose October's Conservative Party Conference, ironically being held in Manchester, to tell that city and the nation the money would be spent on local transport projects instead.

The second phase was due to run between Birmingham, Crewe and Manchester and its cancellation brought widespread condemnation from all corners.

It was later reported the West Midlands would get £2.75 billion in capital for transport projects as result of the HS2 being curtailed, including for the Midlands Rail Hub scheme to improve services across the wider Midlands.

WEST MIDLANDS BUSINESS NEWS REVIEW OF 2023

There was another twist in the long-running story of Birmingham's Smithfield project. Revised designs were unveiled for the £1.9 billion project following complaints from government body Historic England.

The new-look proposals focus on public realm and commercial buildings and have also been brought forward due to changes related to fire safety in residential buildings above 59 feet tall.

Earlier this year, Historic England hit out at the Smithfield plans, saying they would harm the historic cityscape and disturb significant medieval remains as the site is regarded as Birmingham's birthplace.

It was another busy year for Birmingham's £1.2 billion Paradise estate as the third office building was officially launched in October.