HS2 has this week announced the public's preferred design options for the controversial 425-metre viaduct in Balsall Common.

Permission forte structure was signed off in September at the second attempt, despite resistance from locals, who were then given the chance to chose the appearance of the acoustic parapets, and the landscape around the structure.

HS2 was forced to ask locals in order to be given planning permission by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.

Only 203 people actually voted for a preference, with 73 per cent selecting a highly polished parapet.

Of those voting for the polished parapet, nearly half chose the full length pattern, against 26 per cent that voted for the pattern over Station Road only.

The green-coloured parapet came in as the third preferred option with 19 per cent of votes.

A majority of 55 per cent chose the Weave pattern for the viaduct.

On landscape options, 59 per cent of people voted for additional woodland, compared with 28 per cent for marshland, and 10 per cent for conserving the landscape character.

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Christoph Brintrup, HS2's head of landscape said: "We'd like to thank people in Balsall Common for choosing the design details for this landmark viaduct and surrounding landscape in the West Midlands.

"We're pleased that there were clear winners for all three elements, and that this was in line with our original proposals to the council.

"As with all our key structures on HS2, we've involved the community at all stages of the design to ensure we get the best result for everyone, and over the last two years this commitment to inclusive design has helped us refine the appearance of the viaduct structure and its sensitive integration into its environment and community context."