'Healthy, inclusive and inviting': Vision shared for Digbeth's future
A vision for Digbeth’s future has been shared amid plans for 'world-class safer streets with reduced traffic' in the central area.
Birmingham City Council has said it wants to improve key streets in Digbeth ahead of future changes in the area.
It says Digbeth will become a key connecting route from HS2 to the Eastside area of the city, linking its major public and private developments with HS2 and into the city centre.
“Streets and spaces will be healthy, inclusive, and inviting,” the council’s website says.
“Whilst maintaining the existing creative and industrial character of Digbeth, the scheme will maximise the regeneration potential of Eastside, creating a populous and thriving place to live, work and visit day and night.”
A public consultation on the Digbeth Active Travel and Streets Programme and the range of proposals put forward was launched earlier this week on Monday.
It says the first phase will focus on Bordesley Street, Fazeley Street, Oxford Street and Shaw’s Passage.
“These streets link current regeneration sites and create a framework for future improvements with a high-quality benchmark for change,” it says.
The consultation goes on to outline a number of the proposals for making certain streets one way, new cycle lanes, a street plaza, improved street lighting and more.
The proposals include:
Direction of traffic under Park Street bridge to be reversed to allow general traffic to move between Digbeth High Street and Park Street, to Bordesley Street
Bordesley Street made one way between Park Street and Trent Street, to permit eastbound travel only for motorised vehicles
Pickford Street made one way between Bordesley Street and Fazeley Street, to permit northbound travel only for motorised vehicles
Shaw’s Passage to be closed to motorised vehicles (except for access) and parking spaces to be removed
New and improved street lighting
New street trees to Bordesley Street, Fazeley Street and Oxford Street
New low-level planting, street trees and native shrub planting to Shaw’s Passage
New two-way segregated cycle lanes to be provided on Park Street, tying into proposals on Moor Street Queensway
Segregated cycle lanes on Bordesley Street between Park Street and Trent Street
Shared space for cycling on Shaw’s Passage and Oxford Street
New street plaza adjacent to BBC Typhoo Wharf
The consultation, and the full list of proposals, can be found on the Birmingham Be Heard website at birminghambeheard.org.uk/.
Residents have until Friday, June 21 to respond and provide their thoughts.
Report by Local Democracy Reporter Alexander Brock
