Birmingham's New Street 'Chicken Quarter' Demolished for Major Public Realm Overhaul
Major construction has commenced on Birmingham's New Street, with the area colloquially known as the 'Chicken Quarter' being reduced to rubble as part of a comprehensive two-year public realm transformation project. The extensive works will introduce fresh granite surfaces, enhanced lighting systems, improved drainage infrastructure and new street furniture across this prominent city centre location.
Current Construction Status and Timeline
Construction crews have begun ripping up pavements along New Street, with sections of the roadway in the 'Chicken Quarter' now sealed off. The underlying brickwork has been stripped away, revealing the substrata beneath as demolition work progresses. The initial stage of this ambitious project commenced on January 5th, with construction beginning on Victoria Square's steps alongside portions of Temple Street and New Street.
The entire transformation will be completed across six distinct phases, requiring approximately two years for full completion. Specialist personnel are positioned on-site to manage traffic flow while construction zones remain cordoned off, and it's believed that noise-dampening technology is being deployed to redirect sound away from nearby businesses during concrete-breaking operations.
Business Access and Traffic Management
Despite the extensive construction work, establishments on both sides of the thoroughfare remain operational along the section spanning from Nandos to KFC and from The Apple Store to Watches of Switzerland. Around the corner on Temple Street, construction is progressing between Fumo and Flight Club venues.
CPC Civils, the civil engineering contractor carrying out the work, states that the modifications will deliver broader pavements for simpler and safer pedestrian routes, revised traffic regulation orders to 'support pedestrian and cycle friendly environments' and enhanced signage to assist visitors in navigating the town centre.
Comprehensive City Centre Transformation
Ultimately, the public realm improvements will span the entire city centre, with Bennetts Hill, Ethel Street, Lower Temple Street, Eden Place and Chamberlain Passage all scheduled for enhancement works following the New Street transformation. The project will also involve substituting the existing Hostile Vehicle Mitigation barriers - which prevent cars from entering areas with high pedestrian footfall - with more permanent solutions that contractors claim will be 'less intrusive' while maintaining security standards.
As rainfall hit Birmingham this week, substantial puddles appeared on the lower section of New Street, nearer to the Bullring shopping centre. Construction has yet to commence on that particular stretch of the road, highlighting the phased approach being taken across this extensive urban regeneration initiative.
