Funding Uncertainty Clouds Birmingham's Major £22.5 Million Cycle Route Project
Birmingham City Council's ambitious plan to create a comprehensive cycling corridor along the A38 has encountered significant questions regarding its financial viability, despite recent approvals moving the project forward. The £22.5 million initiative aims to extend existing cycling infrastructure from Selly Oak to Longbridge, creating what officials describe as a "connected corridor" linking these areas to Birmingham city center.
Project Progress Amid Financial Concerns
The scheme received approval for its outline business case from the council's cabinet in November, with further advancement this week as cabinet members authorized a strategy to appoint a contractor for necessary infrastructure works. Under the council's preferred timeline, physical work could commence on site as early as October this year, representing a significant step toward implementation.
However, during a council meeting on Tuesday, Conservative councillor Ewan Mackey raised serious concerns about the project's funding structure. The council had previously indicated the scheme would be financed through £8 million in local match funding combined with a £14.5 million external grant from the Department for Transport, managed by Transport for West Midlands.
The Rosewell Review Reveals Potential Shortfall
The funding questions stem from the ongoing Rosewell Review, which is examining more than 150 transport projects across the West Midlands region. Recent documents from this review suggest the A38 cycle route extension might receive only £5 million in funding rather than the anticipated £14.5 million, creating a potential £9.5 million gap in the project's budget.
"Looking at the Rosewell Review from WMCA, it's allocating £5 million," Councillor Mackey stated during the meeting. "My maths means there's a fair gap there. Where's the rest of it coming from?"
Robert Alden, leader of the opposition, echoed these concerns, asking for clarification about whether the council actually has £14 million secured from the combined authority for the project.
Council Officials Defend Project Viability
In response to these questions, council managing director Joanne Roney intervened to clarify the situation. "Just to clarify, the Rosewell Review has made a recommendation which hasn't been agreed yet," she explained. "We are still in discussion with the combined authority. Our business case clearly pre-dated the Rosewell Review."
Roney emphasized that if funding changes are ultimately agreed by the combined authority, the council would need to revisit the overall funding required to complete the scheme. However, she maintained that the council could approve the project based on the existing outline business case while negotiations continue.
"The changes that may or may not come through the combined authority have yet to be agreed and would be part of the negotiation," she added, suggesting the council remains committed to finding a resolution.
Regional Transport Planning in Transition
Interim chief executive Ed Cox at the West Midlands Combined Authority provided context about the Rosewell Review's purpose. He explained that the review is helping authorities "look much more systematically at the way" they plan for major capital programs, moving away from previous practices that allocated entire budgets at notification.
"What we're changing now, with the advice of Rosewell, is the process by which that is going to happen," Cox stated. The review has assessed 168 different projects across the region, categorizing them according to their development stage to allocate funding more strategically.
Community Support for Cycling Improvements
Despite the funding questions, the project continues to receive support from cycling advocates. Martin Price, co-chair of campaign group Better Streets for Birmingham, expressed strong backing for the A38 project last year, describing himself as "incredibly pleased" to see the proposals moving forward.
"This scheme, along with cross-city bus proposals, will enable many more reliable and safe journeys along the A38," Price said. He contrasted this vision with current conditions where pedestrians must share pavements with cyclists, cyclists are confined to narrow lane sections, and buses suffer from unreliable journey times.
The Labour-run council has previously emphasized that the new cycle route would create a safer environment for both pedestrians and cyclists while helping reduce car dependency in the area. The proposed "connected corridor" represents a significant component of Birmingham's broader transportation strategy, even as financial questions persist about its full implementation.
