First glimpse at revamped Birmingham New Street
This is the first glimpse inside the giant atrium at Birmingham New Street station as demolition work continues as part of a £750million redevelopment project.
Although still very much a building site, it offers the chance to see how a huge glass roof will let light into the whole complex when it opens to the public in September next year.
When completed the eye-catching feature will cover an area the size of a football pitch and will overlook 12 platforms.
Around 140,000 passengers a day are expected to travel through the concourse every day.
Approximately 6,000 tonnes of reinforced concrete, which formed part of the original 1960s-style railway station, is being demolished to make way concourse space.
Over 95 per cent of the waste material will be re-used on site or recycled.
The atrium roof was lowered into place last month to allow demolition work to start.
Also on track to open next autumn is the Grand Central Birmingham shopping centre which will be home to 60 stores including John Lewis, Cath Kidston, Fat Face and Monsoon Accessorize. There will also be restaurants and cafes. Brands including Giraffe, Carluccios, Caffé Concerto, Pho, Tortilla, Tapas Revolution, Crepe Affaire, Yo! Sushi and Square Pie wil be among those opening.
Sir Albert Bore, the leader of Birmingham City Council said: "Grand Central will also be a great meeting point and with the range and variety of new restaurants it will give people an even wider choice of places to dine when they are here in the city for business or pleasure."
More than £600 million has gone into regeneration work to improve the station and a further £150m to transform the Pallasades shopping area into Grand Central Birmingham.
The project is backed by Birmingham City Council, Department for Transport, Network Rail and Centro.
They predict that the finished scheme will attract more than 50 million people a year.
See also: Outdated Wolverhampton station among UK's busiest.
