The first of 8,000 steel cladding panels have been installed as part of Birmingham New Street’s £600 million regeneration.

The cladding project is expected to take over two years to complete, by which time the entire station will be covered in the reflective panels. The north side of the building is reportedly the first section that will have new cladding installed.

This part of the project is expected to be completed by April 2013, when the switchover of the station is being planned. Redevelopment of the station has been ongoing since April 2010.

In an interview with rail.co, project director Chris Montgomery appeared delighted to have started work on this part of the new station. He said:

“The start of work on the façade is significant as it’s the first step towards delivering a stunning new building which through new retail, public space and better access will stimulate regeneration and create hundreds of new jobs in the heart of Birmingham.”