Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road

The challenge

West Midlands Combined Authority is delivering three new stations on the Camp Hill Line at Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road. The original stations were closed during the Second World War and never reopened, leaving large residential communities with limited rail access and lengthy, congestion-affected journeys into Birmingham.

Each station is closely integrated with existing neighbourhoods. Moseley Village sits at the heart of the local centre, Kings Heath is positioned directly on the High Street and Pineapple Road lies on the border of Stirchley and the King Edward VI Camp Hill Schools. Reinstating stations in such sensitive, built-up locations required careful consideration of land, access, neighbour impacts and rail industry approvals, while ensuring the stations would support both local life and wider regional connectivity.

What we did

Working with the wider SLC business and AECOM, we provided comprehensive planning, land and consents advice to guide the stations from early development through approvals.

We supported the planning strategy and pre-application process, leading public engagement activity on behalf of WMCA and ensuring community concerns and aspirations were clearly understood. Planning permission was subsequently secured.

Land assembly and site access was critical. We negotiated licences with adjacent landowners to enable construction access, secured the land required at Pineapple Road and advised on a Compulsory Purchase Order strategy. Working with legal partners, we prepared the CPO but ultimately avoided using it through successful voluntary negotiations.

We prepared land references and boundary plans, supported Section 278 and related agreements, and produced drawings showing boundaries, easements, wayleaves and other property features. Our team negotiated with Network Rail, West Midlands Trains and third parties on station lease areas and land transfers, and drafted Station Specific Annexes to capture operational arrangements.

Our strategic approach was captured within a Land and Consents Strategy to coordinate approvals around an operational railway.

Why it worked

A single, integrated approach to planning, land and consents meant design development, stakeholder engagement and approvals progressed together rather than in isolation. Early and open engagement with local residents helped address concerns relating to privacy, noise and vibration, both during construction and operation.

Voluntary land negotiations reduced risk and avoided unnecessary compulsory purchase, while close collaboration with rail industry partners ensured final designs reflected real operational needs.