Firms warned over station revamp

The project is expected to begin next year

More than 500 firms and residents in Birmingham city centre are being told their properties may be affected by the redevelopment of New Street station.

The £598m revamp of the station got the go-ahead earlier this year and now the process of land acquisition has begun.

In February, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said almost £400m of government money would be poured into the project.

Network Rail and Birmingham City Council plan to start work on the scheme in 2009.

The redevelopment is designed to ease congestion for 40m passengers who use the station each year.

The developers also say the scheme will also bring hundreds of jobs to the city.

Building work on the first phase should finish by 2011 with the station being kept open while work on the new concourse is carried out.

The second phase is due to be completed by 2014.