Birmingham New Street station's shiny stainless steel panels to be toned down after drivers left dazzled in the sun

Now the council has agreed to replace some of the panels with a darker hue in a bid to solve the problem.

Councillor Tahir Ali, said: "Taxi drivers complained that the reflection was causing them issues when they were driving as they couldn't see properly.

"A coating will be put on the panels to prevent the sunlight reflecting on drivers."

Two areas of shiny stainless steel panels wrapping around the lower tier of the facade are to be toned down.

Part of the problem also lies in the fact the material is acting like a giant mirror, reflecting heat onto surrounding buildings such as the Crown Public House and the Grade II listed Old Repertory Theatre.

City councillors have now approved a planning application to tone down the colour on two areas of the lower tier. One area of treatment will be applied to the North West corner of the station.

This is next to the electronic board facing Navigation Street, above the exit a taxi and drop-off point. It faces a line of takeaway stores.

The second area is a curve above the entrance for the taxi and drop-off point next to TK Maxx, on the south side of the building.

This curve faces down on the Old Repertory Theatre, the Electric Cinema and Comfort Inn – which are all on Station Street, a level below the station.

The dulling treatment would be applied to the lower tier from the taxi-pick up at the station, to the north-west corner.

In a report attached to the application considered by councillors, Birmingham City Council case officer David Wells said: "Whilst applying the dulling treatment to the facade panels is not ideal, I consider that in the two areas proposed it is the most effective and feasible treatment.

"In the context of the while facade treatment of the station, these two areas are relatively minor."

He added: "I am satisfied the applicant has explored options to avoid the treatment of the facade panels.

"Furthermore, the proposed treatment of the panels would be the most effective and feasible when compared with other options as well as the least disruptive.

"In addition, the applicant has applied the dulling treatment to several panels by the taxi pick up area to test the approach, which are considered to be acceptable and not unduly noticeable."

The station was officially opened by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in November last year.

The Royals unveiled a plaque at the redeveloped station and paid tribute to railway staff killed in action during the First World War.

They also visited the newly-built Midland Metro Tram Extension, which now has a network running direct from Wolverhampton to the station.

The station was first opened in 1854.

But now, following the huge redevelopment project, it boasts a flagship store of John Lewis, but also includes shops and restaurants.

The station was named UK Project of the Year by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors earlier this month, the biggest award in the UK property industry.

The report to the committee states that in January 2013, a specialist consultant undertook a heat study and identified certain areas of hot spots.

The areas identified at risk of affecting the public were initially intended to be preventing by installing a canopy design.

However, this has not prove possible due to several reasons including pedestrian flow, CCTV views and co-ordinating with other street furniture.