University News Last updated 10 November 2015
The UK High Speed Rail network, High Speed Two (HS2), today takes another step from drawing board to reality with the appointment of a new independent design panel that will support the project in realising its aim of applying the best design principles to all its work.
The Panel – announced today (Tuesday 10 November) – will be the project's independent advisor and features Kathryn Moore, Professor of Landscape Architecture at Birmingham City University as one of its members. Professor Moore is also President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) and has published extensively on design quality, theory, education and practice.
HS2 will be a Y-shaped rail network providing direct, high capacity, high-speed rail links between London and Birmingham and on to Manchester and Leeds. HS2 will improve capacity across the rail network, shorten journey times between Britain's major cities, boost the UK economy and create tens of thousands of jobs.
Speaking about her role on the Independent Design Panel, Kathryn Moore, Professor of Landscape Architecture, Birmingham City University said:
"I am truly honoured to have been appointed to the HS2 Independent Design Panel alongside global experts in complementary design fields. I look forward to working collaboratively with the Panel to help HS2 deliver on its key design principles around People, Place and Time.
Professor Moore is among 45 representatives from institutions such as Barclays, Tate Gallery and Virgin Atlantic Airways on the team, as well as Sadie Morgan, Director of dRMM Architects and Chair of the HS2 Independent Design Panel.
Welcoming the Independent Design Panel’s formation, Transport Minister Robert Goodwill said:
"This Independent Design Panel is crucial to ensure HS2 achieves its full potential for everyone. This includes making sure that passengers get the experience they want from HS2 and that it is sympathetic to the landscape through which it is built.
"We want HS2 to be a world class railway which maximises the benefits for the country. Having such a highly-skilled group of experts on board will help make travelling on it easy and pleasurable and ensure we have impressive stations to act as a catalyst for significant regeneration and economic growth."
Experts in design fields including: urban; landscape; equality, diversity and inclusion; digital; brand and product will work alongside internationally-renowned architects; sustainability experts and engineering specialists to help guide HS2’s development.
Members from this group will form part of the regional site-specific design panels, for example at Birmingham Curzon Street station, adjacent to Birmingham City University’s City Centre Campus. This approach will enable the whole project benefits from the skills and expertise now available.