Construction began in November 2008 following the February announcement that planning permission had been approved. The new Birmingham Coach Station has now openned. The article published by the BBC wrote:
The first buses have left Birmingham's Digbeth Coach Station following a £15m revamp.
The station, which has been shut since November 2007, includes a new concourse, information centre, a cafe, shop and toilets. While it has been shut, coaches have been operating from a temporary station on the opposite side of Digbeth.
The coach station will be officially opened on Friday by England football manager Fabio Capello. 'So proud' Three million people are expected to pass through the new station, which has a sweeping copper canopy, every year.
The first coach to leave the new station was being driven by Ray Wicketts, who was also the last employee to drive a coach out of the old site. Paul Bunting, of National Express, said: "We are so proud to welcome people back to the new Birmingham Coach Station. "Just two years since the old station closed, Birmingham's exciting new transport gateway is open and the people of Birmingham will be proud of it for many years to come."
The first coach from the new-look station, which is a base for National Express, left at 0800 GMT.
----------------------------
For more information on the design and also peoples inital thought follow this link to an early article published bye the BBC
Link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2007/10/29/digbeth_renovation_feature.shtml