A reply has been received to a letter sent by all four ward Councillors (for Moseley and & Brandwood & Kings Heath) and the WMCA Road Safety & Active Travel Commissioners to the Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport, Cllr Majid Mahmood. In the letter we had raised issues with the revised Places for People design presented to Cllrs at a meeting on 15th January. (See previous post) In the reply Cllr Mahmood confirms this design will not be progressed and further technical work and legal advice is required before the project can be taken to Cabinet for a decision.
In addition Izzy has received clarification regarding the Billesley Lane traffic calming as follows:
Although the traffic calming on Billesley Lane formed part of the original TRO under a notice, we are not proceeding with that original TRO or the notices that sit within the order. This is necessary because the updated decision, the scope of the scheme, and the associated funding all apply to the entire project, not just selected elements.
Therefore the Billesley Lane traffic calming cannot go ahead as a stand alone element whilst it is part of this scheme.
Both Cllrs Izzy and Philip remain committed to working with officers and residents to facilitate the delivery of a Low Traffic Neighbourhood which will meet the councils Transport plan and Road Harm Reduction Strategy and lead to calmer and safer streets in Moseley.
Birmingham City Council have issued a statement regarding the Kings Heath and Moseley Places for People (LTN) Scheme:
“Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Update
From Monday 15th September to Monday 6th October the traffic regulation order (TRO) consultation for the Kings Heath and Moseley Places for People scheme took place.
Over 900 responses were received via email, letter and the online response form on Be Heard – Birmingham City Council’s consultation platform. The consultation invited people to review the scheme designs and submit a formal objection including the grounds for the objection.
Each response has now been reviewed in detail by the project team.
Based on the mixed feedback and objections received, fundamental changes have been required. As a result, the scheme as originally advertised cannot go ahead and the current TRO cannot be approved.
The modified scheme will need to go to Birmingham City Council Cabinet for approval, following this the TRO will be readvertised to account for these changes.
We understand that this news will be received with mixed feelings across the community, and those who support the Places for People scheme will be disappointed.
We would like to reassure you that as a result of the detailed feedback received through the consultation process, we have gained a clear understanding of what aspects of the designs work and what needed amending. We have worked hard in the background to address the elements of the design to satisfy the needs of both those living in the area and those travelling through.
The revised TRO will be consulted on in March 2026 subject to governance, and this is the opportunity to engage with the consultation process.
Please note the Places for People scheme is a separate scheme to the Kings Heath Local Neighbourhood Scheme which received TRO approval in November and construction will commence in Summer 2026 subject to the statutory process.
If you have any questions regarding the scheme, please contact connected@birmingham.gov.uk.
We thank you for your continued patience and interest in the scheme”
Having met with officers and the cabinet member yesterday I have expressed my deep disappointment in the delays in finalising this scheme. Whilst I accept some changes will have to be made following consultation, I believe these are issues that could and should have been resolved months or years ago.
A proposed alternative scheme that was presented to myself and other Councillors does not, in my view, comply with the councils Road Harm Reduction Strategy nor the Transport Plan. I have made representations that it will negatively impact residents in Moseley. I cannot support it in its current form and have made representations for additional revisions prior to further consultation.
I have also asked for clarification on the proposed traffic calming for Billesley Lane which was not part of the Traffic Regulation Order and was published as a Traffic Notice.
The Traffic Regulation Order consultation for Kings Heath & Moseley Places for People (PfP) aka Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme opens on Monday 15 September and runs until Monday 6th October 2025.
Following public consultation and engagement activities on the proposals for Kings Heath & Moseley PfP, and subsequent amendments to the plans based on this engagement, the council are now at the stage of formalising the proposals through a consultation on the Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO).
During this consultation, residents/businesses and organisations are invited to make comments on the proposals or submit a formal objection (which must include the grounds for the objection).
A letter outlining the TRO will be delivered to all residents and businesses within the area of the scheme.
Details of the measures can be found on the online consultation and sets of the TRO documents will also be available at Kings Heath Library and Kings Heath Community Centre. (Opening times of the venues will need to be checked before attending).
In addition, to the TRO’s the council are proposing the following changes which can be implemented with a Traffic Notice rather than a TRO:
Traffic calming measures on Billesley Lane, Springfield Road, Clarence Road and Gaddesby Road to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety
Zebra crossing on Billesley Lane to improve pedestrian safety
The Council has released its updated delivery plan for Kings Heath and Moseley Places for People (LTN). We are disappointed that this scheme has been delayed yet again for another year, and have made representations that this timeline must be adhered to and brought forward if possible.
Measures have been grouped into four packages and will be delivered over the next couple of years as follows:
Package 1: improvements to phase 1 measures (to the west of the High Street) including the York Road pedestrian zone – to be delivered July to October 2025
Package 2: measures being introduced as part of phase 2 (to the east of the High Street) including new modal filters, one-way streets, and traffic calming – to be delivered July to November 2025
Package 3: 20mph speed limit across the project area, including all ‘boundary’ roads and measures on Coldbath Road – to be delivered February to March 2026
Package 4: a bus gate on Addison Road and reinstate the right turn from Vicarage Road onto A435 Alcester Road – to be delivered April to June 2026
This timeline is based on the current programme but is subject to change in line with any governance and spend control processes in place.
Elements on all packages are also subject to statutory consultation on Traffic Regulation Orders, to take place before construction.
Birmingham City Council have issued an update on the Places for People project (phase 2). I have copied the update below. It can also be found on their website I welcome the release of the details of Phase 2 measures and am supportive of the revised design, having given some initial feedback concerning access to Moseley Golf Club. I am however disappointed no provision has been made to take into account the potential impact on Boundary Roads. I will continue to ensure community representations are fed back to the councilto try to ensure the best possible scheme is implemented for the residents and businesses of Moseley. Cllr Izzy Knowles.
Council Update on Kings Heath & Moseley Places for People project (phase 2) – September 2023
“Places for People in Kings Heath & Moseley aims to reduce traffic in residential neighbourhoods so that it is safer for people to walk, wheel, and cycle and nicer to be outside, for children to play and neighbours to chat. A first phase of this scheme was delivered in 2020 in the form of temporary measures, which were made permanent in April 2022, with the intention that a second phase would implement a revised area-wide scheme.
The Outline Business Case for this next phase of the Kings Heath & Moseley Places for People project was approved by Cabinet in January 2023. Our specialist delivery team are now overseeing the completion of scheme designs and other points required to progress this to delivery.
Following engagement with residents in Autumn 2022, some minor changes have been made to the final concept design layout ahead of delivery, specifically:
the addition of a modal filter at the junction of Yardley Wood Road and St Agnes Road (in place of the proposed one-way ‘gyratory’ by St Agnes church)
the introduction of a diagonal modal filter (south-west to north-east) at the junction of School Road / Greenend Road / Greenhill Road, instead of the existing modal filter on School Road (and in place of the proposed modal filters on School Road and Greenhill Road)
making the section of Springfield Road between Addison Road and Institute Road one-way (northbound) along with consideration of any other traffic calming measures required here (as with Billesley Lane)
A revised final concept design for Kings Heath & Moseley Places for People is shown below
An updated delivery programme is now being put in place based on a phased approach, with measures being delivered through separate packages as follows: 1) improvements to phase 1 measures to the west of the High Street – including the York Road pedestrian zone – which already have TROs in place. 2) new measures being introduced as part of phase 2 (to the east of the High Street) which will require new TROs – this includes modal filters, one-way streets, and traffic calming. 3) a 20mph speed limit across the project area, including on ‘boundary’ roads. 4) bus gate on Addison Road and reinstate a right turn from Vicarage Road onto High Street. Work is underway to complete design work, obtain internal approvals, advertise Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) including statutory consultation, and award construction contracts. Further details, including envisaged timescales, will be shared as available. Notwithstanding the requirement to comply with any spend restrictions in place in advance of the Council setting out its Financial Recovery Plan, the funding allocated to this scheme comes from grants and income which is ring-fenced for sustainable travel and environmental improvements. This funding was committed by the Council’s Cabinet on 17 January 2023 and due to the nature of the funding, it cannot be used to fund any wider financial pressures across the City Council.“
Councillors Izzy Knowles, Philip Mills & Moseley Liberal Democrats 