Government announces HS2 design tenders

A slew of major contracts collectively worth around £6.6bn, have been announced by the Government for the completion of its HS2 high speed rail network.

While these are largely engineering contracts, a shortlist for the master-planning and redesign of London Euston and Birmingham stations has also been revealed.

Brand new stations are planned for Birmingham Curzon Street, Birmingham Interchange and London’s Old Oak Common, while London Euston will be expanded.

The shortlisted parties for the station designs include Arup, Mott MacDonald, WSP, Arcadis and a consortium comprising Jacobs, BuroHappold and Idom. All of the firms have been invited to tender for at least two station packages.

“Convenience for passengers”

HS2 CEO Mark Thurston has promised that the projects will showcase “the very best in engineering and design” and says the partners will deliver “unparalleled levels of accessibility, ease and convenience for passengers”.

There is a separate list of companies bidding to win the Euston Master Development Partner contract. They are Westfield Europe, Euston Regeneration Partnership, Canary Wharf Group, Land Securities Property Holding and Lendlease Europe Holdings.

The winner will advise on, and later take forward, sustainable mixed-use development opportunities, including new homes, offices and retail space.

An advisory panel of designers including Thomas Heatherwick, David Kester and Paul Priestman has been working on the project since 2014 and it is still engaged.

Further smaller design contracts are expected but HS2 was not able to confirm the nature of these at the time of publication.