Willenhall and Darlaston Stations

The challenge

As part of the West Midlands Rail Programme, West Midlands Combined Authority is delivering two new stations at Willenhall and Darlaston. The original stations were closed in the 1960s during the Beeching cuts, leaving surrounding communities with limited public transport options and a high reliance on car travel.

Rail demand across the region has grown significantly and is expected to increase further as the West Midlands continues to expand. Willenhall and Darlaston are historically industrial areas that need improved connectivity to Walsall, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and the wider region in order to attract new investment, support housing and employment growth and reduce congestion on local roads.

Delivering two new stations on a constrained, operational corridor required careful alignment of planning, land assembly, stakeholder engagement, design and rail industry approvals.

What we did

Working alongside SLC and joint venture partners AECOM, we provided comprehensive planning, land and consents support from early development through to delivery.

We led the planning strategy and supported pre-application stages, culminating in successful planning approvals for both stations. Our team coordinated and supported public engagement on behalf of WMCA, helping to inform communities, gather feedback and build understanding of the wider benefits.

Land assembly was critical. We negotiated and acquired key parcels of land at both locations, including securing approximately four acres at Darlaston to unlock the station footprint, acquiring land from multiple adjacent owners at Willenhall and completing a Compulsory Purchase Order where land was unregistered and unavailable by agreement.

We advised on Compulsory Purchase processes, prepared plans, negotiated with affected parties and ultimately helped reduce the scope of compulsory acquisition. Alongside this, we led negotiations with Network Rail, West Midlands Trains and third-party landowners on leases, transfers and access rights, while preparing land boundary plans, easements, wayleave drawings and other property documentation.

We supported Section 278 and other legal agreements, drafted Station Specific Annexes and provided ongoing valuation advice and property consultancy throughout. Our strategic approach was documented within a Land and Consents Strategy to guide approvals and ensure coordination around an operational railway.

Why it worked

The programme benefited from a single, coordinated view across planning, land acquisition, property rights and rail industry approvals. Early engagement with landowners, businesses and residents reduced uncertainty and helped maintain momentum even where design changes altered land requirements.

Clear negotiation strategies, combined with practical valuation advice, ensured land could be secured cost-effectively and in time to support delivery. A structured approach to risk, drainage, flooding, ground stabilisation and overnight works helped manage local sensitivities while protecting programme milestones.

Aligning legal, commercial and planning processes into one clear pathway created certainty for WMCA and delivery partners.