Courier firm UK Mail Group’s central hub in Birmingham is on the route of the planned HS2 rail line and therefore needs to be relocated.
The company has done a deal with the Department of Transport to fund development of a new hub, the size of three football pitches. UK Mail will itself pay for new sorting technology to upgrade its operations.
Subject to planning approval, construction is scheduled to start in early 2014 and complete by spring 2015.
UK Mail CEO Guy Buswell suggested HS2 has been a blessng: “This move will represent an important component of our plans to develop UK Mail into one of the leading and most advanced parcel carriers in the UK, with a new state-of-the-art, highly automated hub at the heart of our network," he said.
HS2 commercial director Beth West said: "We are pleased to have reached this agreement with UK Mail. This is a significant step forward and provides clear evidence that HS2 Ltd can work successfully with businesses to secure long term benefits for both."
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