Birmingham Knowledge Quarter Accessibility Improvements
Overview
Birmingham Knowledge Quarter (B-KQ) is one of the West Midlands Investment Zone’s key investment areas. Two transport capital projects aimed at improving connectivity and accessibility to and within B-KQ have been developed by Birmingham City Council (BCC).
The two projects now being consulted on are:
- James Watt Queensway Super Crossing
- B-KQ Area Wide Active Travel
James Watt Queensway Super Crossing overview:
This project aims to:
- Improve the walking, wheeling (people travelling using wheelchairs and other wheeled aids, such as mobility scooters, as well as pushchairs or prams), cycling and public transport connectivity into B-KQ, Aston University campus and wider Nechells area
- Improve user experience of the James Watt Queensway Super Crossing and surrounding environment
- Reduce conflict at the James Watt Queensway Super Crossing by making movements clearer and safer for people walking, wheeling and cycling
View the James Watt Queensway Super Crossing proposals
- Reducing the width of the road at the crossing point by removing three lanes, to create a shorter, safer crossing for people walking and wheeling
- Realigning the existing crossing with a parallel cycle crossing connecting to the existing A34 route
- Future-proofing provision for the proposed cycle route extension along James Watt Queensway and Moor Street Queensway
- Improving the streetscape with high-quality materials and planting
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B-KQ Area Wide Active Travel overview:
This project aims to:
- Reduce general motorised traffic passing through B-KQ to prioritise walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport usage
- Improve road safety for all users, particularly for people walking, wheeling and cycling, as well as increasing the number of trips made this way
- Improve access and connectivity to jobs, education and wider regeneration and investment opportunities
- Create a street environment that feels more pleasant, welcoming and suitable for all users
View the B-KQ Area Wide Active Travel proposals
Cardigan Street proposals:
- Introducing a two-way bus gate (short section of bus-only street) between the access to Millennium Point car park and Gopsal Street
- Installing a modal filter (a physical barrier such as a bollard or planter) on Gopsal Street to prevent drivers from using it as a route to bypass the new bus gate, whilst keeping it open for walking, wheeling and cycling
- Providing a one-way segregated cycle track (physically separated from people walking/wheeling and motor traffic) in each direction, slightly raised from the road, connecting to the cycle parking on Curzon Street
- Creating continuous pavement crossings at side roads (where the road is raised to pavement level at side roads, so the walking route is not broken or interrupted)
- Adding new bus shelters
- Planting new trees and installing planters
- Delivering new cycle shelters (covered cycle parking) and cycle stands
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View the Cardigan Street plan in a new browser window.
Woodcock Street proposals:
- Widening pavements to allow more space for people walking and wheeling as footfall increases in the area
- Removing and rearranging some pay and display parking bays to accommodate wider pavements outside the busy AU Sports Centre and 10 Woodcock Street
- Rebuilding the existing zebra crossing at Gosta Green onto a raised table (so the road, including the crossing, is level with the pavement, creating a platform with gentle ramps on each side to slow vehicles down)
- Introducing a new raised table parallel crossing (an elevated zebra crossing alongside a parallel cycle crossing, allowing people walking and cycling to cross together) adjacent to Aston Street
- Creating continuous pavement crossings at side roads (where the road is raised to pavement level at side roads, so the walking route is not broken or interrupted)
- Adding new bus shelters
- Planting new trees and installing planters
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View the Woodcock St plan in a new browser window.
Lister Street and Holt Street proposals:
- Widening pavements
- Introducing traffic calming in the form of a chicane (build out on one side of the road to slow vehicles down)
- Installing a new traffic signal-controlled crossing on a raised table on Lister Street
- Creating continuous pavement crossings at side roads
- Adding new bus shelters with associated painted road markings on Lister Street
- Making permanent the modal filter at the Holt Street junction with Lister Street
- Providing a new zebra crossing at Love Lane
- Adding new tree planters and benches to improve the streetscape
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View the Lister Street and Holt Street plan in a new browser window.
Jennens Road proposals:
- Making the crossing between Woodcock Street and Cardigan Street more direct by re-aligning the path on the central reservation
- Widening the pavement at the existing crossing point near the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
- Introducing a new crossing where people already want to cross, north of Grosvenor Street
- Creating continuous pavement crossings at side roads
- Removing unused road space and narrowing lane widths to reduce vehicle speeds
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What Happens Next
Following the consultation period, we will review all responses and make any necessary changes to the plans. Should the decision be made to proceed with the scheme, the proposals will be implemented under Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO, the legal document needed to make changes on roads).
Give Us Your Views. Please note, your responses are being collected by Birmingham City Council and will be temporarily held by Pell Frischmann.
Events
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Aston University drop in session
From 9 Feb 2026 at 17:00 to 9 Feb 2026 at 19:00Location MBA Lounge, Aston University Business School, Aston Street, Birmingham B4 7ETAn opportunity to view the plans in person, and talk to the project team. No booking needed.
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Birmingham City University drop in session
From 10 Feb 2026 at 17:00 to 10 Feb 2026 at 19:00Location Parkside Building Atrium, 5 Cardigan Street, Birmingham, B4 7BDAn opportunity to view the plans in person, and talk to the project team. No booking needed.
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Online Briefing - Microsoft Teams
From 24 Feb 2026 at 18:00 to 24 Feb 2026 at 19:00Location Microsoft TeamsAn online briefing where the project team will go through the plans and answer any questions. To join, click on the link below at 6pm on Thursday 5 February.
Areas
- NECHELLS
Audiences
- All residents
- Businesses
- Councillors/MPs/MEPs
- Cyclists
- Local Residents
- Motor Vehicle Drivers
- Pedestrians
- People with Disabilities
Interests
- Business
- City Centre Parking
- cycling
- Environment
- Health & Wellbeing
- Transport (Including Walking)
- Travel
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