Birmingham City Council has unveiled a major new strategy to combat what it describes as a "road safety emergency" across the city. The centrepiece of the plan is the introduction of widespread 20mph speed limits on residential streets in seven specific districts.
Targeted Areas and New Enforcement Measures
The proposed 20mph zones will be implemented in neighbourhoods including Ladywood, Sparkbrook, and Moseley. This initiative is a direct response to a concerning increase in road fatalities, with the lower limit designed to drastically cut the risk of serious injuries to pedestrians and cyclists.
To ensure drivers adhere to the new rules, the council will recalibrate existing speed cameras and install six new average speed camera systems. Officials state this technological upgrade is crucial to deter antisocial driving and achieve high compliance rates.
A Citywide Shift in Speed Policy
Alongside the new 20mph areas, the authority is undertaking a broader review of speed limits on main roads. The plan involves removing nearly all existing 40mph limits on key arterial routes, standardising them to 30mph instead. This move aims to simplify the rules for motorists and confine higher-speed travel to a select number of expressways only.
In high-priority locations, such as Ladywood Road, physical traffic-calming measures like speed cushions and road humps will also be installed. These are intended to naturally slow traffic in areas with significant pedestrian activity, particularly near schools and community centres.
Specific Roads Affected and Public Consultation
The council's detailed proposal includes implementing 20mph limits on several roads near Chilcote School. The affected streets are:
- Baldwins Lane (between Gracemere Crescent eastern junction and Primrose Lane)
- Barton Lodge Road (between Baldwins Lane and Scribers Lane)
- Scribers Lane (between Baldwins Lane and Barton Lodge Road)
- Hilton Avenue, Morris Field Croft, Chilcote Close and Barton Croft
While the council is seeking government approval for a default 20mph limit to reduce signage costs, a formal public consultation is now open. Residents have until early January 2026 to submit any objections to the proposed Traffic Regulation Orders. This feedback period will help finalise the specific changes on each road.
