STATIONS AS PLACES Opportunity Prospectus
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STATIONS AS PLACES Opportunity Prospectus An integrated masterplan vision and delivery plan for Longbridge Station MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK PROPOSED LONGBRIDGE BUSINESS PARK 2 DEVON WAY LONGBRIDGE TECHNOLOGY PARK OFFICES AND YOUTH CENTRE NEW PARK AND RIDE RAILWAY STATION LONGBRIDGE STATION JUNE 2020 Foreword Introducing the concept of Stations as Places The Stations as Places programme aims to promote local railway stations as community ‘hubs’ rather than simply access points onto the rail network. The vision is to develop local railway stations as an asset highly valued within the community, contributing to economic growth and acting as a hub for creativity, heritage and social amenity. The Vision “We will develop stations as quality gateways between communities and the railway, supporting the changing needs of our passengers, residents and visitors. Stations in the West Midlands will be community assets, supporting the wellbeing and development of the areas they serve through involving local community and business.” -West Midlands Station Alliance (WMSA) Mission Statement What does the prospectus do for Longbridge? There is an important role for the railways to play in both the economic and social regeneration of the local areas which our stations serve. This Opportunity Prospectus sets out the economic, social and geographic landscape of the area around our station and highlights some of the opportunities for commercial development, partnership working, inward investment and community regeneration. We have included a profile of Longbridge Station in this document and looked at different types of activity neighbouring our station, from local businesses providing facilities to the travelling public, local authorities using existing assets in different ways, businesses looking for investment opportunities, and the impact of new development in the surrounding area. Contents Chapter Page Chapter Page Why ‘Stations as Places’? 3 Opportunity Plan 19 Get in touch and keep up to date Bringing our Partners together 4 'Last Mile' Concept Plan 20 About the Station 6 The Aspiration 21 You can email [email protected] and one of the team will get back to you! What Do We Know? 7 Community Insight 23 Survey Results 11 Development Strategy 25 You can also follow progress on Stations Services and Trains 12 Opportunities for Investment 27 as Places at: Station Layout 13 Action Plan and Targets 28 www.wmre.org.uk/stationsalliance The Headline Opportunities 15 Who to contact and how to get involved 29 02 Why ‘stations as places’ for Birmingham University Station? Who are the West Midlands Station Alliance? Prospectus WHAT DO WE KNOW WMSA is a formal alliancing arrangement This Prospectus sets out the headline opportunities for between industry partners with a common Longbridge Station; including community integration, vision and forward plan, including improvements to the passenger environment and exploiting infrastructure owner Network Rail, station the potential of Longbridge as an important hub in the local facilities owner West Midlands Trains suburban multi-modal transport network. COMMUNITY (WMT) and local government West Midlands Rail Executive. The role of the ENGAGEMENT WMSA is to facilitate Stations as Places by bringing together various stakeholders to work together in partnership; ensuring that the Stations as Places vision and local aspirations are shared between the stakeholders, the infrastructure owner - the station facilities owner - and the BUILDING A Local Government VISION Why Longbridge Station has been selected? Longbridge Station serves an important role for residents STATIONS AS PLACES commuting to Birmingham and Redditch, and for people travelling PROSPECTUS into Longbridge for education, shopping and employment. The station has recently been modernised with more ticket vending machines and upgrades to the service counter. The redevelopment of the local area and connections to the Camp Hill line from nearby Kings Norton Station will continue to increase passenger numbers. MONITORING PROGRESS & CONTINUING ENGAGEMENT The drivers for developing this location The regeneration of the former Rover car factory site has significantly altered local travel patterns over the last decade, and Longbridge continues to grow as a centre for mixed development of business, education, youth centre services, retail and residential land uses. The station serves an interchange function with bus stops, a cycle hub and a park and ride car park. 3 Bringing our Partners together Our stakeholders really matter to us. Whether it’s a major developer building new homes in reach of the station, or an individual customer that needs to be able to make an easy journey to a hospital appointment using a combination of train and bus, the Stations as Places team wants to hear views from stakeholders and customers. Our inclusive consultation approach ensures we cover the 4 dimensions of: COMMUNITY LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A railway station is often a great asset to a community, but a community can Some railway stations are ideally suited for some areas and not at all for also be a great asset to a railway station. others. Longbridge Station is already a valuable community asset, but there is room for The main station building has recently been stronger links with the community. Hence, developing links with the local community refurbished to create an attractive entry point and of Turves Green and Longbridge is identified as a key opportunity for the station. ticket sales area. Work is ongoing to create a new The commercial occupiers of Longbridge Town Centre and Technology Park are multi-storey park and ride car park that will include a keen for the station to be an attractive gateway to the area. Retired neighbours are step-free route to the station. As the number of users keen to work to improve the station and prepared to assist with maintenance of the increases, more investment can be made to improve greenspace. waiting areas and extend the range of facilities. SOCIAL VALUE LEGACY Transforming a railway station from a ‘passenger An important objective of Stations as Places is thoroughfare’ into a genuine community asset will to provide a long-term legacy by establishing have a positive impact on the local community. integration and community involvement as the heart of the Longbridge Station. The ongoing development of Longbridge Town Centre is bringing mixed retail, education, commercial and Growing commercial and residential development residential development around the station. The former in the neighbouring area is helping to revitalise the industrial area of the Longbridge car plant is fast station as an important local hub along the cross-city becoming a new ‘district centre’ in its own right. The railway line. Longbridge Station is well-connected to station lies at the heart of the community between local bus services, has a secure cycle parking area the established Turves Green residential area and and is located on the National Cycle Network. the newly redeveloped town centre. Rail travel is an essential mode of transport for local residents, students and staff at Bournville further education college. 4 About the station KEY FACTS STATION TYPOLOGY • The Longbridge site was home to the largest car factory in Europe and spiritual home of the UK car industry, at one point employing up to 25,000 Local Gateway - serves small town, local centres and local interchanges. people at its peak. Key Features: • Closure of the car plant gave birth to a regeneration partnership between • Serves Longbridge neighbourhood centre Birmingham City Council, St Modwen, Bromsgrove District Council and Worcestershire County Council. • Busy suburban station • This successful regeneration is bringing more employment, education, retail • Provides connections to local bus services and housing to the area. What was once a factory has now become a town • Serves nearby residential communities centre. The Longbridge Area Action Plan was adopted in 2009 and has guided the development throughout this period. • Acts as a gateway to the railway to serve local destinations on the Cross City line, plus Birmingham New Street and Bromsgrove/Redditch for • Rail patronage is increasing rapidly. The station has been recently refurbished wider rail connections and made more accessible. • Future growth offers the chance to consolidate and extend the range of facilities available for rail travellers and to better connect the station into the new community that is growing around it. FACILITIES OVERVIEW Longbridge Station CCTV Customer infomation screens and announcements Ticket Office staffed: Monday to Friday 06:00 to 20:00 /Saturday 07:00 to 20:00/Sunday: 09:30 to 15:00 34 sheltered cycle parking spaces with CCTV A ticket vending machine is located in the booking hall. Accessible ticket machines are available at this station. Customer help points are located on both platforms Payphone Toilets (Passengers in possession of a RADAR key can access the toilets at all times) Ramp to access Platform 2 and a lift to access Platform 1. 5 ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬