Birmingham City Council has branded the A38 “noisy and pollutive” and a “significant barrier” to residents and visitors in its draft Local Plan, currently under consultation. The authority has confirmed its ambition to downgrade the key route and reduce the “severance” it causes, with proposals including limiting private car access to the city centre and dismantling “excessive road infrastructure”.
The draft Local Plan, a 20-year planning blueprint, outlines a transformation of the city centre through “a network of pedestrian streets and public spaces integrated with public transport services and cycling infrastructure”. The council wrote: “Access to the city centre for private cars will be limited with no through trips. This includes looking at different options for the central section of the A38, including re-routing it to an upgraded ring road.”
Options for the A38 Queensway
Remodelling the A38 has been proposed before, and the council says it could enable a range of “interventions” depending on funding. These range from new crossing points over a retained Queensway to a new “greenway” with improved pedestrian and cycling provision in place of the Queensway flyover. The Local Plan adds that this greenway could transform the setting of St Chad’s Cathedral and “unlock the development potential” of surrounding sites.
Another possible major change is the proposed removal of the Lancaster Circus Flyover, which the council says would provide a “significant development opportunity” and improve connectivity across the city. “Improving the links across the A38 is essential in continuing to dismantle the excessive road infrastructure encircling the city centre core,” the council said. “Overcoming this barrier […] is vital, improving links for residents and businesses alike.”
A38 underpasses ‘perceived as unsafe’
The document also said the transformation of Snow Hill Station and the adjoining multi-storey car park into a “major new mixed-use destination and transportation hub” is in the early planning stages. The council said such a project could provide regeneration “benefits” in the area and provide redevelopment opportunities on the northern side of the A38.
“These measures will help to overcome the significant barrier that the A38 Queensway currently presents to non-vehicular movement to neighbouring areas such as the Jewellery Quarter and Curzon Gateway and Birmingham Knowledge Quarter,” it said. These include addressing problems with existing crossings and underpasses “that are of a poor standard and perceived as unsafe”.
Previous consultation and next steps
Back in 2024, the authority launched a consultation on proposals which would prevent drivers from joining and/or leaving the key route at certain junctions. During that consultation, the council stressed that while routes to a destination may change, “all locations will remain accessible”. “This will reduce congestion in these locations and is an important first step on the journey to downgrading the A38 and reducing the severance it bring,” the council said of the proposals. It continued at the time that it was “essential” that it freed up space previously allocated to private vehicles. “We understand the city needs to keep moving and efficient access is essential to all,” the council added.
